In Jammu & Kashmir, the 40-day period of extreme cold, known as 'Chilai-Kalan', began yesterday whileas the region is continuously reeling under intense cold wave and chill for the past over ten days now.<br />'' The night temperature across Kashmir Valley improved by several degrees last night due to the cloudy sky.<br />'' <br />'' Srinagar recorded minimum temperature at 1. 2 degree Celsius last night with day temperature settling at 9.6 degrees Celsius.<br />'' <br />'' Similarly, the minimum temperature improved to minus 7.6 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg compared to Saturday's minus 9.6. Pahalgam recorded minus 6.8 degrees.<br />'' <br />'' Meteorological Department Srinagar in a weeklong forecast this evening predicted dry weather till next Saturday. The department forecast dry weather over Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh regions in the next 24 hours.<br />'' Traffic Officials said the Srinagar Jammu national highway continues to remain closed for the past two days now. They said, the debris clearance operation is in progress at a quick pace and will continue overnight at Digdole in Ramban area along Srinagar Jammu highway. At least 1500 passenger vehicles and loaded trucks still remain stranded on Digdole-Ramban road stretch for last two days. The Srinagar-Leh highway and Mughal Road continues to remain closed for vehicular traffic.<br />''  <br />'' Officials said the vehicular traffic was restored on Gurez-Bandipora highway in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, after remaining suspended for past 12 days due to recent snowfall in the region.<br />'' <br />'' Airport Authority officials said that a total 50 inbound and outbound flights from Srinagar Airport were operated as per normal schedule.