The 40-day harshest period of the winter, Chillai Kalan, began on an optimistic note today after mild snowfall in the upper reaches and rain in planes of Kashmir brought respite from freezing cold conditions over the past many days. The tourist resorts of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg in the upper reaches around the Valley are covered with a thick blanket of snow after these areas witnessed moderate snowfall during the past few days. However, roads leading to these tourist resorts remained open to vehicular traffic. Several parts of the Valley witnessed moderate rain last evening bringing further respite from the freezing cold. With snowfall and rain, the temperatures rose from the below zero level. The day temperature here today was recorded at 5.9°C, about three degrees below the normal level, while the minimum temperature was 0.8°C last night. Weather forecast reveals that light rain or snow may occur at one or two places across the state over the next 24 hours. After days of freezing temperatures, rain during the past couple of days and snowfall in its upper reaches have brought much-awaited respite from the severe cold conditions. The heavy accumulation of snow over high mountains at the stage leads to good stocks for water during the next season.