Srinagar, Dec 14 (IANS): Intense cold wave conditions continued to grip the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region Saturday as Leh and Srinagar towns recorded lowest night temperatures of the season.

Sonam Lotus, director of the local weather office, told IANS: "At minus 3.7 degrees Celsius and minus 14.2 degrees Saturday, Srinagar and Leh towns respectively recorded this season's lowest night temperatures.

"The minimum was minus 6.6 (degrees Celsius) in Pahalgam and minus 2.4 (degrees Celsius) in Gulmarg," Lotus said.

"Kargil town recorded a minimum of minus 10.8 (degrees Celsius) while Jammu city recorded 8.8 degrees (Celsius) today (Saturday)," the director added.

Lotus said the present weather conditions are likely to continue during the next seven days across Jammu and Kashmir and a further fall in night temperatures would occur during this period.

"Present cold is going to become more severe during the next seven days as the weather is likely to remain dry across the state," the weather official said.

"There could be some light snowfall/rainfall activity in higher reaches, but this wouldn't be of much significance so far as the overall weather conditions are concerned," Lotus said.

A thin layer of frost and fog Saturday forced motorists to remain indoors in the early hours of morning in summer capital Srinagar.

Portions of the Dal Lake in Srinagar city have started freezing although the harshest 40-day period of winter, known locally as the 'Chilla Kalan' is still six days away.