Srinagar, Jan 4 (IANS) Rain and snowfall have been forecast at many places in the Kashmir Valley with thick, white clouds hanging over the region Wednesday.

“Rain and snow are likely to occur at many places across the valley during the next 24 hours,” an official of the local weather department said here.

Because of the nightlong cloud cover, the minimum temperature rose Wednesday, providing some relief to the locals who had been braving severe cold wave conditions since the last 20 days.

“The minimum temperature was minus 3.1 degrees Celsius in Srinagar city. It was minus 3.2 degrees in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam hill station and minus 7.2 in Gulmarg ski resort,” said the official.

Gulmarg also saw light rain and snow in the morning.

“Kargil town was the coldest in the state at minus 13.4 while Leh recorded minus 13 degrees,” said the official.