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Extraordinary photographs are being posted across the Internet of a rare sight…Snow on the dunes of the Sahara and in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia, which hasn’t dropped below freezing in half a century.
Last week, the Sahara dropped to 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 Celsius) and amazing pictures of snow on the dunes have been captured near the town of Ain Sefra in Algeria by photographer Karim Bouchetata, LADBible reports.
The Sahara, the world’s largest desert, is known as one of the most severe climates on earth, receiving very little rainfall. In addition to its famous sand dunes, it also encompasses arid mountains, plateaus, sand- and gravel-covered plains, shallow basins and large oasis depressions. And its highest point is 11,204 feet above sea level, with its lowest point 436 feet below sea level, Desert USA reports.
However, another thing the Sahara is known for its being among the driest places on earth, where average rainfall is a few inches or less, and some areas may see no rain for several years.
In fact, no matter where you are in the world, winter is a time when harsh dry air can damage your skin. Protect your skin in the winter by searching for the best anti-wrinkle cream available and apply it daily.
It has been 50 years since the temperature in Saudi Arabia has dipped below freezing. Last week, temperatures in Saudi Arabia fell to 26.6 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 Celsius), but rarer still, the event brought snowfall.
Locals and foreigners to flocked to the Aseer region of the desert to capture a glimpse of the rare sight, GEOTV reported.
Photos captured snow and ice covered dunes, as well as flocks of sheep grazing and ice-covered grassy areas. Another stunning site were camels pictured surrounded by snow, which were published by the Daily Mail.
Although it is been a half-century since snow blanketed Saudi Arabia, in recent years, snow in the desert town of Ain Sefra in the Algerian Sahara has occurred three times in the last four years: 2017, 2018 and 2021. Prior to that, a dusting of snow hasn’t occurred since 1979.
It’s normal for temperatures to plummet at night in deserts. But what has brought the moisture is a phenomenon known as anti-cyclones, in which high pressure systems of cold air move over land to the desert areas, bringing lower temperatures. As the storms move clockwise out of Central Asia, they pick up moisture along the way which cools to form snow.
