Snow marks start of Swedish 'summer'

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UMEA, Sweden, June 1 (UPI) -- Residents in a northern Sweden county said they marked the first day of June by shoveling thick, wet snow.

The residents of Vasterbotten County said they awoke Friday morning to find nearly 8 inches of snow on the ground, and residents across Sweden found temperatures no higher than 50 degrees, Swedish news agency TT/The Local.se reported Friday.

"Summer has been halted for the time being across the country," said Linnea Rehn of the Swedish meteorological institute SMHI.

Meteorologists said temperatures are not expected to rise for several more days, and rains are likely in much of the country.

"I'd have to say it's probably going to get worse. The rain and clouds will continue for some time to come," Rehn told the Aftonbladet newspaper.