Snowfall paints Saharan dunes in white

Last Sunday an unexpected snowfall blankets the sand dunes of Ain Sefra, northwestern Algeria.

I would not expect this scenario in the desert, but it seems it was not the first time.

_source

It has been observed at the end of 2016, when it covered a notoriously arid part of the desert for the first time since 1979, and NOW!!

The area of Ain Sefra, a northern Algerian town, is at the southern foot of the Atlas mountains, about a kilometer or so above sea level, the extreme northern limit of the Sahara desert, commonly referred to as the Gateway to the Desert.

It seems a huge mass of cold air was dumped on the Sahara from North America, causing the local temperature to hover around 1°C (33.8°F) and creating the ideal conditions for a sudden snowfall. The snow was visible in satellite imagery, standing out in the orange desert surface.

It's possible to see more information and amazing photos here:

• severe-weather.EU
• express.co.uk
• iflscience

Last but not least, I also found an impressive video of the phenomena:

I don't know how about you, but this impressed me a lot!!

Anyway, it didn’t last long!

As one of the links I share below: "After just a couple of hours max, the snow-covered sand reverted back to its original reddish tinge as temperatures rose again".

Stay warm!

_{(if you're in​ the Northern Hemisphere as me)}