Srinagar, Jan 14 (IANS): Cold wave continued across the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region on Thursday, with the Met Office forecasting a further dip in the night temperatures till Saturday.

"Due to clear night sky, there would be further drop in minimum temperature during the next two days as the weather is likely to remain dry during this period", a weather official told IANS.

The minimum temperature was minus 2.9 in Srinagar, minus 4.4 in Pahalgam and minus 4.2 in Gulmarg today.

In Leh town of Ladakh region, the minimum temperature was was recorded at minus 13.5 degrees.

Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 8.4, Katra town base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine recorded 8.2, Batote 2.6, Bannihal minus 0.2, Bhaderw ah 0.4, while the night temperature in Udhampur town of Jammu region settled at 10.2 degrees Celsius.

The 40-day long period of extreme cold called the 'Chillai Kalan', that began on December 21, ends on January 31.