Jammu/Srinagar, Dec 4 (IANS): Weather across Jammu and Kashmir is likely to remain dry for the next 48 hours as night temperatures are expected to dip further in the state during this period.

"Due to clear night sky expected during the next 48 hours, minimum temperatures are likely to drop further in the state," an official from the Met department here told IANS.

"Lowest night temperatures in Kashmir Valley remained several notches below the freezing point today (Sunday).

"Leh town, at minus 7.8 degrees Celsius, was the coldest in the state while Jammu city recorded the night's highest temperature at 9.6 degrees Celsius.

"Minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 2.1 degrees Celsius while it was minus 4.3 in Pahalgam and minus 1.2 in Gulmarg.

"Kargil town recorded minus 5.5 degrees Celsius as the night's lowest temperature.

"Katra town recorded 11.1 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature while Batote recorded 8.3, Banihal 4.6 and Bhaderwah 3.7 degrees Celsius as the lowest night temperature."

Authorities were bracing up to keep educational institutions open in the valley during the winter months against the traditional practice of keeping them closed for three months of the harsher winter period.

After facing closure imposed by separatists for five months, students are up against the bigger challenge in winter as even the maximum temperatures hover around zero during the harsher winter period of 40 days called the "Chillai Kalan", which begins on December 21 and ends on January 31.