Srinagar, Jan 14 (IANS) The night temperature in Srinagar Saturday dipped to a sub-zero 7.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest ever during the last 16 years as an intense wave of cold swept across the valley, officials said.

“The minimum temperature dipped to minus 7.8 degrees Celsius in Srinagar city Saturday. This is the lowest ever for the last 16 years. In 1995, the lowest recorded for the season in Srinagar was minus 8.2 degrees,” Sonam Lotus, director of the local Met office, told IANS.

“The lowest ever in Srinagar has been minus 14.2 degrees that was recorded on January 31, 1893,” he said.

According to Lotus, an approaching western disturbance would bring moderate snowfall in Srinagar and other places of the valley Sunday and day after.

The minimum temperature in Gulmarg ski resort was minus 15.2 degrees while it was minus 12.2 degrees in south Kashmir Pahalgam hill station, he said.

“Kargil town in Ladakh region recorded minus 17.2 degrees while Leh town recorded minus 13.6 degrees as the day’s minimum temperature,” said another official.

The day temperatures remained below the freezing point for the seventh day Saturday. Very little traffic moved on the city roads in the morning due to highly slippery and icy road conditions.