Shimla, Dec. 19 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of rain and snowfall in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh for a 72-hour period beginning after December 20, a senior weather official said on Thursday.

Speaking to ANI, Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Senior Scientist at the IMD's Meteorological Centre in Shimla, said that the weather across most parts of the state remained largely clear over the past 24 hours, though intermittent cloud cover was observed.

"Temperatures have largely remained near normal," Sharma said, adding that the highest maximum temperature was recorded at Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district at 24degC. Shimla recorded a maximum temperature of 16.2degC, which is about 2degC above normal.

On th...