Shimla, Feb 17 (IANS): A cold wave continued to grip Himachal Pradesh, with the higher reaches experiencing more snow for a third consecutive day Sunday.

There was widespread rainfall in low and mid hills, said an official.

The meteorological office here said the western disturbance would start retrieving from the region Monday onwards, but temperatures would nosedive further.

Tourist spots near Shimla, such as honeymooners' paradise Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda experienced moderate snowfall, turning the hill stations more picturesque.

Likewise, the Solang ski slopes, 13 km uphill from Manali, and Kalpa, 250 km from the state capital, saw snow.

Kalpa recorded 33.2 cm snow, the highest in the state.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district experienced 10 cm snow and recorded a low of 2.9 degrees Celsius.

Picturesque tourist resort Manali recorded a low of 0.2 degree Celsius while it was 6.2 degrees Celsius in Dharamsala, minus 4 degrees in Kalpa and 1.7 degrees in Shimla.

After opening of skies, the minimum temperatures across the state is likely to plummet by three to four notches, a weatherman said.

Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner J.M. Pathania said in the past three days around three feet snow accumulated in the district's higher reaches.