Rare snow blankets Sinai peninsula, Egypt

Snow fell on a mountainous area in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Friday, January 10, 2020, in one of the area's rare winter snowfalls. 

A cold front passed through Egypt last week, with temperatures in the Sinai mountains plummeting to freezing, while near-freezing conditions were felt in the mainlands.

In a video captured by resident and tour operator Ragab Eid, the site is seen blanketed in white.

Snow in the area usually lasts for a day until temperatures go back to the normal average. However, snowfall continued through Saturday.

Meanwhile, snowfall on Saint Catherine city in South Sinai led to an unexpected rise in tourist occupancy rates as hundreds of people flocked to the area to see the snow.

According to the head of the municipality council, Talaat al-Anani, the snow brought great excitement to the city and all roads are open.

Although snow on streets began melting already, flurries continued on in the mountain tops.

Saint Catherine is located at an elevation of about 1 600 m (5 249 feet) above sea level, at the foot of the Sinai High Mountains. A famous tourist attraction, the city features the oldest inhabited monastery in the world revered by three Abrahamic faiths — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Featured image credit: Ragab Eid