Srinagar, Jan 18 (IANS): Intense cold wave conditions continued across Jammu and Kashmir Sunday with night temperatures dropping several notches below the freezing point in the Valley and the Ladakh region.

An official of the weather department told IANS here that the present cold wave conditions are likely to continue till Wednesday after which rain and snowfall is expected in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The present cold wave is likely to continue up to Wednesday after which we are expecting rain and snowfall that would break the cold wave spell in the Valley," the official said.

The minimum temperature was minus 3.7 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, and minus 6.4 and minus 5.6 in Pahalgam and Gulmarg respectively.

"While the minimum temperature in Leh town was minus 15, in Kargil town it was minus 15.6 degrees Celsius."

"Jammu recorded 5.7 as the minimum temperature," the official said.

Rain and snowfall occur during winter months in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh because of western disturbances. The prospects of a good Rabi crop in these areas depends on these disturbances.

Western disturbances is the term used to describe an extra tropical storm in the Mediterranean Sea, which consequently results in precipitation in the areas affected by it.