Omar Abdullah tweets "it's snowing in Gulmarg" as cold wave grips J&K, Leh freezes at minus 12 degrees

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Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is known for his love for the nature and skiing on the slopes in Gulmarg hill station, expressed his happines on Sunday over the season's first snowfall here.

“It's snowing. It couldn't get any more beautiful up in #Gulmarg today,” Omar wrote on Twitter.

It's snowing. It couldn't get any more beautiful up in #Gulmarg today. pic.twitter.com/7Vd7iEH0tW — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) December 13, 2015

An intense cold wave swept the Kashmir Valley today as minimum temperatures dropped below the freezing point overnight. Leh town in Ladakh region recorded a minimum temperature of minus 12.1 degrees Celsius.

"The minimum temperatures throughout the valley dropped below zero today (Sunday)," said an MeT official.

The minimum temperature was minus 0.8 in Srinagar city, minus 4.3 in Pahalgam and minus 9.2 in Gulmarg.

In Jammu region, minimum of 8.5 degrees was recorded in Jammu, 8.5 degrees in Katra, 2.5 degrees in Batote, 0.3 degree in Bhaderwah and 2.5 degrees in Banihal town.

"We are expecting a further drop in the night temperatures across the state during the next three to four days. During this period, weather is expected to remain dry. Clear night skies will cause further drop in minimum temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir," the MET official added.

The 40-day period of bitter cold, known locally as `chillai kalan`, begins on December 21 and ends on January 31. Lakes, streams and rivers freeze in the valley freeze during the period.

(With Agency inputs)