Srinagar, Dec 24 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir reeled under intense cold weather as minimum temperature dipped further across the state on Thursday.

The weather office has forecast dry weather for the next two to three days.

"Minimum temperatures are likely to fall further due to dry weather in all regions of the state," an official of local meteorological office told IANS here.

Dry weather coupled with clear night sky has intensified cold and chilly conditions, particularly in Kashmir valley.

Mercury dipped below the freezing point in Srinagar and settled at minus 4 degrees compared to previous night's minimum of minus 0.3 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature in Srinagar will hover around 4.1 degrees Celsius, the official said.

Minimum temperatures also plunged below the freezing point in tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

The minimum temperature recorded at Pahalgam was minus 8.5 degrees compared to Wednesday's minus 6.3 degrees Celsiusy.

Kashmir is passing through 40-day period of harshest winter season known as "Chillai-Kalan", which began on Monday.

In Ladakh capital Leh, the minimum temperature dropped to minus 12.9 degrees.

The overnight minimum temperature in Jammu city was 3.8 degrees compared to 5.6 degrees on Wednesday. The maximum temperature in Jammu city is likely to hover around 18 degrees Celsius.

In other places of the Jammu province, minimum temperatures recorded were 4.8 degrees in Katra town, 1.7 degrees in Banihal, minus 0.7 degrees in Batote, minus 0.6 degrees in Udhampur and minus 3.5 degrees in Bhaderwah town.