Night temperatures improved in the lower reaches of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, even as the mercury plunged below the freezing point in the higher reaches despite Friday's scattered rains and snowfall at few places in the state.

Kargil town in the Ladakh region was the coldest in the state at minus 14 degrees Celsius. The region has mostly witnessed dry weather over the past two weeks, increasing the cold and chilly conditions there.

The meteorological office has forecast dry weather in the state for next two-three days.

The minimum temperatures improved a little in Srinagar and other places of the valley on Saturday due to night cloud cover.

"The minimum temperature in Srinagar city was 1.7 degrees Celsius today (Saturday). We are expecting a partly cloudy day ahead in the city," an official of local weather office said.

The popular Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir, thronged by tourists mostly in winter season, received 5 centimetres of snow and was coldest in Kashmir province on Saturday at minus 10.3 degrees.

Tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir remained at minus 7.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

In other places of the valley, minimum temperatures were 1.6 degrees in Qazigund town, 0.5 in Awantipora, minus 1.5 in Kupwara and minus 0.1 in Kukernag.

Mercury dipped to minus 13.5 degrees in Leh town of the Ladakh region, while as Kargil town of the same region remained frozen at minus 14.0 degrees Celsius.

"It will be a partly cloudy day ahead in Ladakh with the maximum temperature hovering around 6 degrees Celsius", a weather official said.

The minimum overnight temperature in Jammu city was 5.5 degrees Celsius. The local weather office said it will be a partly cloudy sky in the city today.

Bhaderwah town in the Jammu province recorded lowest minimum temperature in the region at minus 0.9 degrees Saturday.

In Jammu province's other places, minimum temperatures recorded were 7.3 degrees in Katra town, 4.8 degrees in Banihal, 3.1 degrees in Batote, 3.4 degrees in Udhampur, 6.4 degrees in Kathua, the Met Office said. "The maximum day temperatures in Srinagar and Jammu city is likely to hover around 8 and 23 degrees Celsius respectively today." (Agencies)