Srinagar, Nov 19 (IANS): Normal life was affected in Srinagar as night temperatures dropped to half a degree below the freezing point Wednesday. Dense morning fog also forced locals to stay indoors.

"The night temperature dropped to minus 0.5 in Srinagar. This is the lowest recorded here so far this season," Sonam Lotus, director of the local weather office, told IANS.

Motorists and commuters Wednesday morning experienced difficulty due to dense fog in and around Srinagar, where visibility dropped to less than two metres, forcing locals to start the day late.

The mercury is likely to drop further in the coming three to four days as the weather is expected to remain dry during this period.

"Pahalgam recorded minus 3.2 degrees Celsius while the night temperature showed improvement in Gulmarg at 0.5 degrees Celsius."

"Kargil and Leh towns recorded a minimum of minus 9.8 and 9.2 degrees Celsius last night," Lotus said.

The minimum temperature in Jammu was recorded at 10.1 degrees Celsius.

Sale of woollens in the Valley markets has gone up due to winter setting in early.

Also flying off the shelves are 'Kangris', a small pot filled with lighted charcoal carried close to the body as a means of keeping warm to help guard against the biting winter cold.