Srinagar, Dec 21 (IANS)

Light to moderate snowfall began Saturday morning in higher reaches of the Valley as the weather office said rain or light snowfall would occur in summer capital till Sunday.

The hill stations of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and other higher reaches of the Valley in Jammu and Kashmir received moderate snowfall during the night. It snowed in the morning as well.

"The night temperature was minus 3.9 degrees Celsius in Srinagar today (Saturday). It was minus 7.0 in Gulmarg, minus 5.6 in Pahalgam, minus 12.4 in Leh and minus 11.2 degrees Celsius in Kargil town of the Ladakh region.

"The minimum temperature in Jammu city today (Saturday) was 4.8 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal," said Sonam Lotus, director of the weather office here.

The 40-day period of harsh winter, known locally as the 'Chila Kalan' began Saturday.