Cold wave further tightened its grip in Srinagar as the season’s low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius was recorded in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, a MET office spokesman said.

The dip in the night temperature in the Valley and frontier region of Ladakh had also led to the freezing of almost all water bodies in the high altitude areas and led to the suspension of traffic.

The famous ski resort of Gulmarg, 55 kms from Srinagar, in north Kashmir was the the coldest place in the Valley, with a minimum of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir also recorded the season’s low of minus 5.0, he said.

However, the frontier region of Ladakh continued to be the coldest place in the state with a minimum of minus 15.0 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature recorded at Kargil was minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

“The continued dry spell is the only reason for the dip in the night temperature across the region,” an official of the weather office said, predicting no change in the prevailing weather conditions during the next 48 hours.

“In fact, the night temperature may drop further owing to open skies,” he said.