Small Algerian town of Ain Sefra - known as the gateway to the Sahara desert - is making headlines again after its sand dunes were covered by second snowfall this winter on Monday, February 5, 2018.
Snow has covered northern Algeria's desert around the city of Ain Sefra for the second winter in a row on January 7, 2018. But the town has seen another round of snow less than one month later.
Although the latest snow was not as deep as at the beginning of January when an estimated 40 cm (16 inches) fell on mountains on the outskirts of the town, locals were stunned and are saying that after 2016, snow is becoming a tradition in their town.
Snow in this region is rare, but not unprecedented. However, what is unusual is that this is the second winter in a row that Ain Sefra saw measurable snow and even more unusual - the second time within a month.
Images below are provided by photographer Karim Bouchetata:
Ain Sefra, Algeria snowfall on February 5, 2018
Ain Sefra, Algeria snow on February 6, 2018
Ain Sefra, Algeria snow on February 6, 2018
And for a bigger picture, here is NASA/USGS Landsat-8 image acquired on January 8, 2018 draped over a global digital elevation model:
NASA/USGS Landsat-8 image acquired January 8, 2018 draped over a global digital elevation model, built from data acquired by NASA’s Shuttle Radar Topography Mission.
Posted by The Watchers. See more images at https://watchers.news/2018/02/06/snow-covers-desert-town-ain-sefra-for-the-second-time-this-winter/
Featured image: Ain Sefra, Algeria snow on February 6, 2018. Credit: Karim Bouchetata