June snow falls in Wales as Britain struggles through a drought

June 11, 2011- WALES – Tourists in Wales were left frozen and shocked when snow started to fall, despite it being mid-June. The blizzard-like conditions had holidaymakers running for shelter in Snowdonia – just as it was being announced that large parts of Wales and England are officially suffering a drought. Jonathan Tyler, manager of Snowdon Mountain Railway’s visitor centre at the summit of the mountain, told Wales Online: ‘It snowed for about an hour… people were arriving at the summit looking quite bemused. It was summer at the bottom of the mountain and winter at the top.’ Mary Pearce, 62, who was visiting the mountain railway, told the BBC: ‘It is the middle of June, days before the start of Wimbledon and just over a week before the summer solstice. But there we were, standing with the snow blowing all around us.’ Meanwhile in Bristol, another area affected by drought concerns, a hailstorm broke out, forcing shoppers and tourists to run for cover. While the snow and hail may not be welcomed by summer holidaymakers, many are hoping that it will help bring some relief to the dry conditions around the country. After one of the driest springs on record in many parts of Britain, a state of drought has been officially declared in parts of eastern England. The drought affects Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire and more areas could follow. Parts of the South West, South East, Midlands and Wales are experiencing near-drought conditions, the Environment Agency said. –AOL travel

contribution Suzie B.