Srinagar, Jan. 9 -- Kashmir witnessed the season's coldest night on Thursday with mercury touching -9.8 degree Celsius in Sonamarg, said MeT officials. The J&K meteorological centre stated that ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir and the tourist resort of Pahalgam in South Kashmir also witnessed a very cold previous night. " The Gulmarg recorded -9.2 degC followed by -8.6 degC in Pahalgam," said an official of MeT. The summer capital Srinagar also experienced a cold night with temperature dropping to as low as -5.1 degC while the gateway into Kashmir at Qazigund recorded -5.4 degrees. However the day temperatures on Thursday were several notches above normal. Srinagar recorded a maximum of 11.1 degC followed by Kupwara at 10.9 degree and Qazigund at 10.5 degree. The MeT has predicted further drop in night temperature. "Significant fall in minimum temperatures expected till 10 Jan & thereafter likely to rise by 1-2degC," said MeT director, Mukhtar Ahmad. He said that moderate fog over plains of Jammu division with dense fog at isolated places is likely to continue for next five days. The weather will be generally dry but cloudy till January 15. "On 16-17 January, the weather will be generally cloudy with light rain and snow at isolated places of Kashmir division," Ahmad said. As Himachal's higher reaches continue to experience colder nights, Kukumseri in tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti, recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state on Thursday at -11.2 degrees Celsius. It was closely followed by -8.9degC in Tabo and -3.6degC in Kalpa. Solan recorded a minimum temperature of -1.8degC, while Narkanda and Seobagh recorded -1.6degC and -1.5degC, respectively. Manali recorded a minimum temperature of -1.4 degC. Bhuntar and Reckongpeo each recorded a minimum temperature of -1.3 degrees Celsius. Kufri recorded -0.8degC, followed by Sundernagar at -0.6degC and Bajaura at -0.4degC. During the last 24 hours, mainly dry weather was observed in the state with no significant change in minimum and maximum temperatures. According to IMD Shimla office, a cold wave was observed in Mandi, Kangra, Bilaspur, Palampur, Berthin and Hamirpur. Dense fog was observed in Bilaspur, while shallow fog was observed in Paonta Sahib. MeT officials said dry weather is likely to prevail in the state till January 14. While no significant change is expected in minimum temperatures in the next 24 hours, it is likely to rise by about 2-4 degrees Celsius during the subsequent next 3-4 days in the state....