Srinagar, Feb 4 : Amid overnight cloud cover, the minimum temperatures rose considerably across Kashmir Valley with mercury increasing to above the sub-zero level in Srinagar, officials said on Thursday.

The respite from the severe cold seems short-lived as the meteorological department has forecast dry weather for the next one week with 2-3 degrees Celsius drop in the mercury from tomorrow.

“While light to moderate rain/snow occurred at most places of J&K during past 24 hours, significant improvement in the weather is expected from today afternoon,” Sonam Lotus, Director of the local meteorological departmentsaid.

“Mainly dry weather is expected for next one week from tomorrow (February 5 and expect minimum temp to fall by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius tomorrow,” he said.

A meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar witnessed 1.2-centimeter of snowfall in last 24 hours till 0830 hours today while mercury settled at 0.4°C against minus previous nights minus 0.4 °C in the summer capital of J&K. It was for the first time in almost two months that Srinagar recorded temperature above sub-zero level.

The minimum temperatures have consistently remained far below normal this season. On January 31, the mercury plunged to minus 8.8°C, the coldest January night recorded in three decades.

The minimum temperature also improved in other parts of the Valley, the MeT official said.

The mercury settled at minus 3.3°C in Pahalgam against minus 3.9 °C on the previous night while the world-famous health resort received 1.6cms of snow.

Qazigund, the gateway town of J&K, recorded a low of minus 0.8°C against minus 2.8°C on the previous night and it received snowfall of 13.2cms.

Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 5.1°C against minus 2.4 °C on the earlier night while it had 6cms of snow.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 6.4°C against minus 5.2°C earlier night while the world’s famous skiing resort received a good amount of fresh snowfall, the official said.

The mercury settled at minus 2.3°C in Kupwara against minus 1.2°C on the previous night while northern Kashmir district received 1.5cms during the time, the official added.