Santa Claus will not have to trudge through snow in the Kashmir Valley this Christmas. The weather office Monday forecast cold, dry weather conditions in the region.
"The weather will remain dry in the valley in the next 24 hours although the sky will be generally cloudy," an official of the weather office said.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar was 1.2 degrees Celsius Monday, three degrees above the season's average. The minimum temperature in the city was -4 degrees Celsius Sunday.

The temperatures remained below freezing point in most parts of the region Monday.

"The minimum today was -2 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam, -5.2 in Gulmarg, -8.2 in Leh and -10.2 in Kargil town," the official said.

The Kashmir Valley is presently passing through the 40-day harsh winter period known locally as Chillai Kalan.