The night temperatures plunged across Kashmir Valley with famous hill resort of Pahalgam recording its coldest January night in six years. However, during the day, there was sunshine with Srinagar witnessing maximum of 7.1 degree Celsius, nearly a degree above the normal for this time of the year. A meteorological department official said that Pahalgam had recorded a low of minus 16.6 Degrees Celsius on 21 January 2012. There was however respite with day temperature rising to 5.4 degree Celsius. Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recorded a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, down from previous night’s minus 0.8 degree Celsius.Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.'Chillai-Kalan' ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).Qazginund, the gateway town of Kashmir, saw a low of minus 5.9-degree Celsius as against minus 0.9 degrees Celsius on previous night while Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 4.2 degree Celsius against minus 3.3 degrees Celsius on the previous night.The MeT official said that the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 12.0 degrees Celsius last night as against minus 9.0 degrees Celsius on the previous night.Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 5.4 degree Celsius last night, down from the previous night’s minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.The night temperature in Leh and Kargil dipped to minus 16.2 degrees Celsius and minus 18.0 degrees, respectively.The meteorological department has predicted another wet spell from January 19 which “might change as well. The day temperature is expected to see a gradual increase in next four days. (GNS)