Srinagar, Dec 25 (IANS): The night temperature dropped to minus 9.3 degrees Celsius in north Kashmir's Gulmarg - a ski resort - the lowest recorded in Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday.

"The night temperature was minus 9.3 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg today (Wednesday) which is much colder than Leh and Kargil towns of Ladakh region recorded at minus 6.3 and minus 6.8 respectively today (Wednesday)," a weather official here told IANS.

"Gulmarg today (Wednesday) witnessed the coldest night of the season," he added

"Pahalgam recorded a minimum of minus 1.4 (degrees Celsius) while Srinagar city had a minimum night temperature of 0.6 (degree Celsius) today (Wednesday)," the official said.

"Jammu city recorded a minimum of 5.7 degrees today (Wednesday)", he said.

The weather is expected to remain cold and dry during the next 48 hours in Kashmir, he added.

Kashmir has been reeling under intense cold wave conditions as winter's harshest 40-day period locally called the 'Chila Kalan' started Dec 21.

Authorities have issued avalanche warnings for higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley, including Sonamarg and Keran areas in the north where residents have been advised not to venture out of their homes during the night hours.

Traffic on the strategic Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which is the landlocked Kashmir's only road link with the rest of the country, will move from Jammu to Srinagar Wednesday, as only one-way traffic is allowed these days due to slippery roads in Banihal and Patnitop sectors of the over 300-km long highway.