Snowfall in the hilly areas of northern India kept the region in the grip of cold weather today even as scattered rainfall occurred in a few places.
In Delhi, two days of bleak weather was followed by clear skies and a sunny morning with the maximum and minimum temperatures both registering a slight rise over yesterday.
The minimum in the national capital was recorded at 12.5 degrees Celsius, against 12 degrees yesterday, while the maximum rose by a notch from 17.4 degrees to touch 18.4 degrees.
While the minimum had jumped five notches above normal, the maximum was three degrees below that mark in Delhi.
Snowfall continued in the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley even as the minimum temperatures in the area dipped further to settle below freezing point.
Srinagar received 0.5mm rainfall in the night and had the mercury settling at a low of -0.4 degrees, against the previous night's 0.3 degrees.
The ski-resort of Gulmarg received around 1.25cm snow with the mercury there dropping three notches to settle at -9.6 degrees. Pahalgam hill resort received 20cm snow and recorded a low of -4.0 degrees.
In rainfall in the state, Kokernag, in south Kashmir, and north Kashmir's Kupwara recorded showers measuring 12.4mm and 1.1mm, respectively.
The night temperature also fell in Leh, which remained the coldest place in J-K with a low of -9.0 degrees as against -6.2 degrees the night before.
In Himachal Pradesh, the higher reaches reeled under the biting cold although the weather cleared in the lower hills.
Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Narkanda, Sarahan and Sangla valley received moderate snowfall while the middle and lower hills were hit by rainfall over the past 24 hours.
Manali received 12cm while Shimla got 6cm of fresh snowfall.
The minimum was at -2 degrees in Manali with Shimla seeing the mercury settle at 1.6 degrees, three notches below normal.
Chamba was the wettest place in the state with 48mm rainfall followed by Karsog (22mm) and Bhoranj (20mm).
Rohtang Pass has been closed and vehicular traffic suspended on the Manali-Leh road beyond Solang.
Shimla had no relief from the cold as the sky remained partially overcast and strong icy winds blew through the town.
