Srinagar, Jan 18 (Reporter) Most places across Kashmir experienced a rise in minimum temperatures, though they remained below freezing, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 0.9°C on Saturday. Srinagar’s Meteorological Centre said the overnight minimum temperature in Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was recorded at -8.2° Celsius. Pahalgam, the popular tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, recorded a significant improvement in its overnight minimum temperature. The mercury rose to -3.4°C on Friday night, offering some respite from the bone-chilling cold of the previous night when temperatures had plunged to a freezing -11.8°C. MeT said that Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -0.9°C, which, though higher than the previous night, was still 2.0°C below normal for this time of year. Other parts of the Kashmir valley also registered freezing temperatures. Qazigund-the gateway town to the valley in South Kashmir, recorded -2.5°, while Kokarnag and Kupwara recorded minimums of -2.8°C and -1.3°C, respectively. Kashmir is currently in the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan,' the harshest phase of winter that began on December 21. Spanning 40 days, this period is characterized by a significant drop in temperatures and heightened chances of snowfall, making it the coldest and most challenging time of the season. The 'Chillai-Kalan' ends on January 30 In the Jammu division, the minimum temperatures were comparatively warmer but still showed a seasonal chill. Jammu city recorded 8.5°C, while Banihal and Batote registered -1.4°C and 3.5°C, respectively. Katra noted a minimum temperature of 9.1°C, staying slightly below the seasonal average. The MeT has predicted mainly dry weather in Kashmir till January 19. There is a possibility of very light snow at at isolated to scattered scattered places from January 20 to 23 in Jammu and Kashmir...////...