Srinagar, Dec 19 (IANS): Dry cold spell continues in the Kashmir Valley. On Monday night temperatures throughout dropped several notches below the freezing point, the MET office said.

It said the present conditions would continue for the next 48 hours (till Wednesday).

Leh recorded the lowest minimum temperature at minus 13.8 while Srinagar was at minus 4.2. It was minus 5.3 and minus 3.5 in Pahalgam and Gulmarg, respectively.

"Jammu recorded 8.2, Katra 8.3, Bannihal 1.0, Batote 4.3 and Bhaderwah 1.5 as the night's lowest temperature," an official of the MET department told IANS.

Anxiety among locals was increasing as the 40-day long period of extreme cold known as the 'Chillai Kalan' approaches on December 21 and there was no sign of snowfall in the Valley.

Heavy snowfall during the 'Chillai Kalan' replenishes all the perennial water reservoirs of the Valley that sustain rivers, lakes, springs and other water bodies through the year.

A dry winter foretells water scarcity and drought in the summer for Kashmiris.