Within Algeria Strange
How Can Snow Fall on Saharan Dunes?
Snow on Saharan dunes looks apocalyptic, but Algeria's rare weather oddities are stranger when the geography is understood.
On this page
- Ain Sefra and the photographs that travelled worldwide
- Elevation, mountains and winter weather physics
- Why rare weather becomes Fortean folklore
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Introduction
Snow falling on the Sahara sounds like the sort of headline that belongs in a book of impossible events. Yet in north-western Algeria it is a genuine, if rare, meteorological phenomenon. Around the town of Ain Sefra, dramatic photographs of white snow lying across orange-red dunes have repeatedly travelled around the world, often presented as if nature had briefly stopped obeying its own rules. The reality is more interesting than the myth. Ain Sefra sits on the northern fringe of the Sahara, about 1,000 metres above sea level and close to the Atlas Mountains, where cold winter air, moisture and local topography occasionally combine to produce snow.[RMetS]rmets.orgsnowfall sahara desertSnowfall in the Sahara Desert9 Jan 2018 — In January 2018, more than 40cm (15 inches) of snow has blanketed sand dunes across the sm…
For Fortean enthusiasts, the fascination lies not in a supernatural mystery but in the way a perfectly real weather event becomes something uncanny. A landscape strongly associated with relentless heat suddenly resembles a winter postcard, challenging assumptions about what deserts are supposed to look like.
How Can Snow Fall on Saharan Dunes?
The key misunderstanding is that “desert” does not simply mean “hot”. A desert is defined by its lack of precipitation, not by permanently high temperatures. Many deserts experience freezing nights during winter, especially at higher elevations.
Ain Sefra occupies an unusual geographical position. It lies where the northern Sahara meets the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. During some winters, cold polar or Arctic air pushed south across Europe reaches North Africa. If that cold air meets enough moisture from Atlantic or Mediterranean weather systems, precipitation forms. Because temperatures around Ain Sefra can fall below freezing, that precipitation arrives as snow rather than rain. The surrounding mountains also force moist air upwards, cooling it further and increasing the chance of snowfall.[rmets.org]rmets.orgsnowfall sahara desertSnowfall in the Sahara Desert9 Jan 2018 — In January 2018, more than 40cm (15 inches) of snow has blanketed sand dunes across the sm…
The result is highly localised. Vast areas of the central Sahara remain dry, while a relatively small area near the mountain edge briefly turns white before the snow melts under returning sunshine.
Ain Sefra and the Photographs That Travelled Worldwide
Although brief snowfall was recorded in 1979, the event became internationally famous after December 2016, when local photographer Karim Bouchetata captured striking images of snow coating the famous orange dunes. The photographs spread rapidly through newspapers and social media, becoming some of the most recognisable weather images of the decade.[Smithsonian Magazine]smithsonianmag.comsnow falls sahara first time 1979 180961545Smithsonian MagazineSnow Falls in the Sahara for the First Time Since 197922 Dec 2016 — A cold snap in the Algerian city of Ain Sefra led…
Several similar events followed:[indiatoday.in]indiatoday.inSahara Desert turns white from rare snowfall21 Jan 2026 — Snowfall in Ain Sefra is unusual. Similar events were recorded in 1979, 2018, 2…
- February 1979: A short snowstorm reportedly disrupted local traffic, becoming the first widely documented snowfall in the area.[Smithsonian Magazine]smithsonianmag.comsnow falls sahara first time 1979 180961545Smithsonian MagazineSnow Falls in the Sahara for the First Time Since 197922 Dec 2016 — A cold snap in the Algerian city of Ain Sefra led…
- December 2016: Snow returned after nearly four decades, producing the photographs that made Ain Sefra internationally famous.[Smithsonian Magazine]smithsonianmag.comsnow falls sahara first time 1979 180961545Smithsonian MagazineSnow Falls in the Sahara for the First Time Since 197922 Dec 2016 — A cold snap in the Algerian city of Ain Sefra led…
- January 2018: A heavier fall left some dunes covered by several centimetres of snow, creating spectacular striped patterns as snow settled into hollows while exposed ridges remained orange.[RMetS]rmets.orgsnowfall sahara desertSnowfall in the Sahara Desert9 Jan 2018 — In January 2018, more than 40cm (15 inches) of snow has blanketed sand dunes across the sm…
- January 2021 and January 2022: Further snowfalls reinforced the idea that, while still unusual, the phenomenon was no longer viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime curiosity.[sky.com]news.sky.comsahara desert rare snowfall leaves extraordinary pattern on sand dunes 12192141Sky NewsSahara desert: Rare snowfall leaves extraordinary pattern…19 Jan 2021 — The Algerian town of Ain Sefra has experienced snow fo…
Each episode generated headlines suggesting an impossible contradiction: “snow in the Sahara”. Yet meteorologists consistently explained that these events resulted from an unusual but entirely understood combination of altitude, winter cold and atmospheric circulation.[FOX Weather]foxweather.comFOX WeatherRare snow blankets Sahara dunes in Northern AfricaJan 3, 2025 — The dunes of the Sahara were whitened by a layer of snow on Ne…
Why the Landscape Looks So Unnatural
The photographs appear almost unreal because they combine colours and textures the human brain rarely expects to see together.
Fresh snow reflects almost all incoming sunlight, creating brilliant white surfaces. Saharan dunes, by contrast, contain iron-rich sands that appear deep orange or rust-red. When snow settles unevenly over curved dunes, the contrast creates flowing bands of white and orange that resemble abstract paintings more than natural scenery.
This visual effect encourages viewers to assume the photographs have been digitally altered. During several snowfall events, fact-checkers and weather agencies confirmed that the images were genuine. Satellite observations also recorded snow cover in the region during these episodes.[Smithsonian Magazine]smithsonianmag.comsnow falls sahara first time 1979 180961545Smithsonian MagazineSnow Falls in the Sahara for the First Time Since 197922 Dec 2016 — A cold snap in the Algerian city of Ain Sefra led…
The same visual surprise explains why the pictures are repeatedly recycled online, sometimes detached from their original dates and presented as brand-new or even as evidence of dramatic global anomalies.
Beyond Snow: Red Skies and Other “Impossible” Desert Weather
Snow is not the only weather event that gives northern Algeria an uncanny reputation.
Dust suspended high in the atmosphere frequently produces deep orange or crimson skies, particularly around sunrise and sunset. Fine Saharan mineral dust can also be carried hundreds or even thousands of kilometres before falling with rain elsewhere, creating “blood rain” or muddy deposits that have inspired folklore across Europe and the Mediterranean.
Within Algeria itself, dense dust storms can transform daylight into an eerie reddish twilight. Visibility drops sharply, familiar landmarks disappear and the landscape takes on an almost Martian appearance. For travellers encountering such conditions unexpectedly, the experience can seem deeply unnatural despite being well understood by atmospheric science.
These events demonstrate an important pattern in Fortean history: unusual weather often becomes memorable because it overturns deeply held expectations about how the natural world should behave.
Why Rare Weather Becomes Fortean Folklore
People remember weather that appears to violate common sense. A desert covered in snow feels more extraordinary than heavy snowfall in the Alps because it clashes with a powerful cultural image of the Sahara as a place of endless heat.
That psychological contrast encourages exaggerated retellings. Headlines describe “the impossible”, photographs circulate without dates, and each new snowfall is sometimes mistakenly reported as the first ever recorded. In reality, the historical record shows repeated but infrequent events rather than a unique miracle.[rmets.org]rmets.orgsnowfall sahara desertSnowfall in the Sahara Desert9 Jan 2018 — In January 2018, more than 40cm (15 inches) of snow has blanketed sand dunes across the sm…
The snow also illustrates how genuine scientific phenomena can enter the same cultural space as Fortean stories. No paranormal explanation is required, yet the images possess the same emotional impact as accounts of mysterious lights or phantom animals. They make the familiar world seem briefly unfamiliar.
For Algeria’s catalogue of strange history, that is precisely why desert snow has become so enduring. The photographs capture a real event that looks like a contradiction, reminding us that nature often appears most mysterious when it is behaving exactly as physics allows.
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The AMS Weather Book
Clearly explains how unusual weather such as Saharan snow can occur.
AMS Weather Book
First published 2013. Subjects: Geography, Life sciences, Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Popular Science in Nature and Environment.
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Endnotes
1.
Source: rmets.org
Title: snowfall sahara desert
Link:https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/snowfall-sahara-desert
Source snippet
Snowfall in the Sahara Desert9 Jan 2018 — In January 2018, more than 40cm (15 inches) of snow has blanketed sand dunes across the sm...
Published: January 2018
2.
Source: news.sky.com
Title: sahara desert rare snowfall leaves extraordinary pattern on sand dunes 12192141
Link:https://news.sky.com/story/sahara-desert-rare-snowfall-leaves-extraordinary-pattern-on-sand-dunes-12192141
Source snippet
Sky NewsSahara desert: Rare snowfall leaves extraordinary pattern...19 Jan 2021 — The Algerian town of Ain Sefra has experienced snow fo...
3.
Source: explorersweb.com
Link:https://explorersweb.com/sahara-desert-algeria-snow-ain-sefra/
Source snippet
Rare Snow in the Sahara Yields Surreal Visuals22 Jan 2022 — Snow fell in Ain Sefra, Algeria this week for just the fifth time...
4.
Source: weather.com
Link:https://weather.com/news/trending/video/sahara-snow-algeria-rare-desert-phenomenon
Source snippet
fleeting contrast that happens only a handful of times per century...
5.
Source: smithsonianmag.com
Title: snow falls sahara first time 1979 180961545
Link:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/snow-falls-sahara-first-time-1979-180961545/
Source snippet
Smithsonian MagazineSnow Falls in the Sahara for the First Time Since 197922 Dec 2016 — A cold snap in the Algerian city of Ain Sefra led...
6.
Source: eu-space.europa.eu
Link:https://eu-space.europa.eu/components/earth-observation-copernicus/image-of-day/snow-sahara-desert-algeria
Source snippet
EU Space PolicySnow in the Sahara Desert in Algeria | EU Space Policy27 Jan 2023 — Snowfalls are very rare in the Sahara because of the h...
7.
Source: foxweather.com
Link:https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/ain-sefra-sahara-snow
Source snippet
FOX WeatherRare snow blankets Sahara dunes in Northern AfricaJan 3, 2025 — The dunes of the Sahara were whitened by a layer of snow on Ne...
8.
Source: abcnews.com
Link:https://abcnews.com/International/rare-snowfall-hits-sahara-desert/story?id=52232890
Source snippet
Rare snowfall hits the Sahara Desert9 Jan 2018 — This is believed to be only the fourth time snow has fallen on Ain Sefra in northern Alg...
9.
Source: instagram.com
Title: Snow in the Sahara?
Link:https://www.instagram.com/p/DS2vOo2DH7b/
Source snippet
❄️ It happens, and more often than...THE SAHARA DESERT IS FAR MORE COLORFUL THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE 🏜️ ✨ The Sahara Desert is often ima...
Additional References
10.
Source: research.assaf.org.za
Link:https://research.assaf.org.za/assafserver/api/core/bitstreams/0f01ae0c-6804-4ffc-a6d7-9ce9c82669b2/content
Source snippet
in the SaharaThe. NW Algerian town of Aïn Séfra is particularly affected by snow events, receiving snow in the winters of 1979, 2016. 20...
11.
Source: indiatoday.in
Link:https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/sahara-desert-snowfall-2026-northern-algeria-ain-sefra-weather-news-2855746
Source snippet
Sahara Desert turns white from rare snowfall21 Jan 2026 — Snowfall in Ain Sefra is unusual. Similar events were recorded in 1979, 2018, 2...
12.
Source: africanews.com
Title: first sahara desert snow in 37 years captured by algerian photographer
Link:https://www.africanews.com/2016/12/22/first-sahara-desert-snow-in-37-years-captured-by-algerian-photographer/
Source snippet
First Sahara desert snow in 37 years captured by Algerian...13 Aug 2024 — Algerian amateur photographer, Karim Bouchetata, shot beautifu...
13.
Source: watchers.news
Title: snow cover seen on saharan sand dunes in ain sefra algeria
Link:https://watchers.news/2026/01/20/snow-cover-seen-on-saharan-sand-dunes-in-ain-sefra-algeria/
Source snippet
Snow cover seen on Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra...20 Jan 2026 — Light snow began covering Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra in Algeria...
14.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/meteoredofficial/posts/a-major-snowfall-%EF%B8%8F-has-left-siberian-like-landscapes-in-algeria-in-north-africa-/1306041024897547/
Source snippet
on the town of Ain Sefra, Algeria, with a couple of inches in the...
15.
Source: facebook.com
Title: It is the 3rd time snow has fallen here
Link:https://www.facebook.com/ukrnewsfeed/posts/%EF%B8%8F-white-dunes-of-the-sahara-snow-falls-in-northern-algeria-desertsnowfall-in-the/122161087640654935/
Source snippet
snow falls in northern Algeria desert Snowfall in the region...16 inches of snow around on the town of Ain Sefra, Algeria, with a couple...
16.
Source: instagram.com
Link:https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTxj2uGkWlT/?hl=en
Source snippet
nter spectacle this week as a rare dusting of snow blanketed...
17.
Source: unn.ua
Link:https://unn.ua/en/news/the-sahara-desert-in-algeria-was-covered-in-snow-due-to-an-anomalous-drop-in-temperature
Source snippet
The Sahara Desert in Algeria was covered in snow due to...12 Mar 2026 — Snow fell in the Sahara Desert in Algeria, turning the famous sa...
18.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Snowfall in Sahara Desert is getting more frequent! Why?
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgJAgSFw2w4
Source snippet
Sahara desert snow Algeria Ain Sefra ‘Gateway To Sahara’ In Algeria’s Ain Sefra Covered With Snow | The Quint The Quint...
19.
Source: english.aawsat.com
Title: Ain Sefra is known as
Link:https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3429106/snow-covers-algeria%E2%80%99s-desert-temperature-plunges?_wrapper_format=html&page=4
Source snippet
Arab NewsSnow Covers Algeria's Desert as Temperature Plunges22 Jan 2022 — Even then, however, the phenomenon is rare – with snow just fiv...
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