Jammu/Srinagar Nov 30 (IANS): Night temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir rose above normal on Wednesday as rain and snow was forecast in the hilly regions for Thursday.

"Rain and snowfall is likely to occur in the higher reaches of the state during the next 24 hours," an official of the MET department told IANS.

"The weather would remain cloudy throughout the state during this period, but we are not expecting any appreciable rainfall in the plains," he said.

People in the valley, however, witnessed relief from a freezing night as the minimum temperatures rose above the freezing point throughout.

Srinagar's night lowest temperature was 3.9 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal.

In Pahalgam the minimum temperature was 2.9, while in Gulmarg it was 2.0.

Leh recorded a minus 3.1 while Kargil recorded zero degrees as their lowest night temperatures.

The official said the minimum temperature in Jammu city was also a degree above normal at 11.1.

Mata Vaishno Devi base camp town of Katra recorded 12.5, Batote 9.3, Bannihal 5.0 and Bhaderwah 4.2 as the lowest night temperature.

"The minimum temperatures throughout Jammu region remained above normal due to the nightlong cloud cover," the official said.