Srinagar, Dec 15 (IANS): The Kashmir Valley continued to reel under cold wave conditions Sunday as the night temperature dropped to minus 3.8 degrees Celsius here, the lowest this season so far.

The night temperature here Saturday night was minus 3.7 degrees Celsius.

"Night temperature was minus 3.8 degrees in Srinagar today (Sunday), the coldest recorded so far this season.

"The minimum was minus 5.8 in Pahalgam, minus 0.2 in Gulmarg while Leh and Kargil towns of the Ladakh region recorded minus 13.8 and minus 10.3 degrees, respectively today (Sunday).

"In Jammu city, the night temperature was 10 degrees Celsius," an official of the Met Office said here.

The Valley has been experiencing severe cold conditions, five days ahead of the traditional 40-day period of harsh winter the locals call "Chilla Kalan". It begins Dec 21 and ends Jan 31.

Most roads and streets are covered with a thin layer of frost in the mornings, making movement of pedestrians and motorists risky.

Intense morning fog has been adding to the problems of the motorists who prefer not to venture out of their homes before sunrise these days.

Doctors have advised children and elderly people to take adequate precautions during this period as respiratory diseases and bone fractures due to slippery road conditions become common.

Sonam Lotus, director of the Met Office, said the cold wave conditions are likely to intensify during the next six days because the weather is expected to remain dry during this period.