Snow surprise: Sahara desert sees rare snowfall

Sand dunes of the Sahara desert were recently blanketed in a layer of snow when temperatures dropped below zero near the town of Aïn-Séfra in northwest Algeria.

A below-zero temperature drop this week, January 2022, has allowed parts of the Sahara Desert in northwest Algeria to be covered in snow – something that has only occurred five times in the last 42 years.

Snow in the Sahara

According to Travelnews, for the world’s largest desert, which reaches peak highs of 58°C, ice and snow on the sand dunes is an extremely odd sight. During the month of January, usual temperature only reach a maximum of around 14°C. And while it is rare indeed, Aïn-Séfra has seen snow at least four times before, in 1979, 2016, 2018, and last year in 2021.

The Sahara desert is the largest desert on the planet, and also known to be the driest. The Algerian town of Aïn-Séfra, located in the Naama province and surrounded by the Atlas Mountains, is almost 1,000 metres above sea level. With known water scarcity in the region, one does wonder how snow could fall in such a dry area.

The climate crisis is very unpredictable and could very well be the cause for such strange phenomena. According to a study published in the journal Science, cold weather events like these could be attributed to the Arctic warming.

Parts of Greece also blanketed in snow

Greece has also been bombarded with snowfalls recently, even in the most low-lying areas. Since Sunday, 23 January, the island destination of Mykonos saw intense snowfalls that forced schools to close and traffic to be disrupted. Mykonos is known for its heat and summery party atmosphere, but the island saw lashings of snow that even had its beaches covered.

ALSO READ: Italy opens for SA travel, with a catch