Snow has covered the Sahara Desert in northern Algeria, turning the sand dunes completely white amid strong winds. Locals have come out to witness the unusual sight.
On 21 January 2026, international news agencies reported that the golden sand dunes of the Sahara Desert in the city of Ain Sefra, northern Algeria, were covered by a layer of white snow amid strong winds, creating an unusual landscape rarely seen in desert areas.
Mr. Karim Bouchettata, a resident of Ain Sefra, revealed that the snow began to cover the area since Saturday (17 January). Locals came out to observe and capture images of this rare phenomenon, which rarely occurs in the Sahara Desert region, known as one of the driest and hottest places in the world.
Experts say that snowfall in the Sahara Desert is a rare event, usually caused by a strong cold air mass spreading over North Africa during winter, leading to temperatures dropping low enough to cause snow even in desert areas.
Source: AP