Srinagar, Sep 1 (IANS): There are less chances of hailstorms threatening crops in the Kashmir valley during the autumn season though the minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded a degree below normal, the Met Office said Monday.

Kashmir has been experiencing thunderstorms and squalls for the past 10 days which have been threatening apple and paddy crops here.

Moderate rainfall Sunday night brought down the minimum temperature here to 14.6 degrees Celsius Monday, which is a degree below normal.

Jammu and Kashmir suffered a 37 percent deficit in rainfall during this monsoon season although there were good rains during the last week of August, Met Office Director Sonam Lotus told IANS.

While the minimum temperature was 14.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, it was 11.4 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam, 9.5 in Gulmarg, 9.8 in Kargil and 15.3 in Leh, he said.

"The minimum temperature was 24.1 degrees Celsius in Jammu," he said.

"The sky is likely to remain cloudy Monday. The weather is expected to remain dry during the next three days, but we are expecting moderate rainfall in the Valley Sep 5, 6 and 7," Lotus said.

Although thunderstorms might occur during these three days at isolated places, the chances of hailstorms in the Valley are low during the autumn season.

The month of September is usually a dry period in Kashmir and all fruits and crops including apple, rice and maize ripen during this month.

A strong gush of wind or a hailstorm is often detrimental for the ripening fruit and other crops if it occurs during September.