Jammu Dec 18 (IANS): With the minimum temperature dropping to 5.5 degrees Celsius, this Jammu and Kashmir winter capital experienced the coldest night of the season on Friday, the weather office said.

"It was the coldest night of the season in Jammu city on Friday...we are expecting a further drop in the night temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir...snowfall and rain are expected during the next 24 hours (to Saturday morning) in the state," a Met official told IANS.

According to weather office, a drop in the temperature was also recorded in the other towns across the Jammu region.

The minimum temperature at Mata Vaishno Devi Base camp town of Katra was 5 degrees, while it was 0.8 in Batote, minus 1.2 in Bannihal and minus 2.5 degrees in Bhaderwah towns

Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures in the Kashmir Valley continue to remain several notches below the freezing point. The official said the minimum temperature was minus 3.2 in Srinagar on Friday, minus 7.7 in Pahalgam, and minus 10.4 in Gulmarg.

In the Ladakh region of the state, the minimum temperature was minus 12.9 and minus 7.4 degrees Celsius in Leh and Kargil towns respectively.

The 40-day period of extreme cold known locally as the 'Chillai Kalan' begins on December 21.