With no let up in snowfall in the high altitude areas, including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, and intermittent rains in the plains, the night temperatures across Kashmir valley dipped today after showing steady increase over the past three days, engulfing the region in a the fresh cold wave.

It is still snowing in the upper reaches of the valley, including Gulmarg, the main attraction for the tourists visiting Kashmir during winter, official sources said.

The snowfall started in Gulmarg and other high altitude areas early yesterday under the influence of western disturbance which is expected to hover over the region during the next few days.

"So far 10 inches of snow have accumulated in Gulmarg hill resort, while its peripheral areas, including Khilanmarg, Kangdoori and Apperwath, received heavy snowfall," sources said adding reports of heavy snowfall were also received from Sadna top, Z-Gali and Razdan top in north Kashmir, holy cave shrine of Amarnath and adjoining areas in the periphery of Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, Sonamarg and Zojilla Pass along Srinagar-Leh National highway and Yousmarg in Budgam district of Central Kashmir.

The plains, including summer capital Srinagar, were lashed by intermittent rains with heavy cloud cover. However, occasionally, the sun also appeared from behind the clouds this morning.

In the aftermath of the fresh snowfall, the icy winds sweeping the region brought down the mercury by a few notches. Barring Gulmarg, the night temperature remained above freezing point across the valley, a spokesman of the Met office said.

He said Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.4 degree Celsius, while Srinagar recorded a dip of two notches in the night temperature which settled at 2.6 degrees. Qazikund, the gateway to Kashmir, also recorded a low of 2.6 degrees followed by Kokernag (2.3), Pahalgam (1.2) and Kupwara (0.5), the spokesman added.

The weather office has predicted moderate to heavy rain or snowfall in the region till February 17.