With the minimum temperature dropping to -0.6°C on Thursday, summer capital Srinagar witnessed the coldest day of the season so far. An official of the weather office said: "The minimum temperature was -0.6°C in Srinagar making it the coldest day of the season so far." Night temperatures dropped below the freezing point throughout the Kashmir Valley on Thursday, while Leh town was the coldest in the state at -11.2°C. "The minimum temperature was -3.8°C in Pahalgam, minus 2°C in Gulmarg, -11.2°C in Leh town and -4.6°C in Kargil town," the official said.

"Leh town was the coldest in the state on Thursday," added the official.As a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) is approaching the state, the weather office has forecast rain and snow at some places during the next two days.

A WD is the name given to a sub-tropical storm in the Mediterranean Sea, which causes precipitation in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

The WD plays an important role in the development of the Rabi crop in the region.  Kashmiris have been complaining about the winter season having advanced this year, but officials of the weather office refute the common notion. 

"The temperatures during the month of November have been generally around the same extremes this year as during the last decade. However, the minimum temperature has remained below normal during the last two weeks," Sonam Lotus, director of the weather office, said IANS.