Snow cover seen on Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra, Algeria
Light snow began covering Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra in Algeria on January 17, 2026, and continues to do so, forming a scenic contrast with the barren sands of the desert, which has been going viral on social media.
Snow cover on Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra, Algieria on January 17, 2026. Credit: Karim Bouchetata
Snow cover was seen on the dunes of the Sahara once again this winter, with first observations being reported on January 17.
The snow was observed in the Algerian town of Aïn Séfra, known as the “Gateway to the Sahara.” It is located in the northern Sahara at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and close to the border with Morocco.
Snow in the dry deserts of the Sahara used to be rare but has been increasing in frequency since 2016. The first widely reported snowfall occurred in 1979. Then, for nearly forty years, the white cover did not appear on the desert until 2016, when the phenomenon returned.
Observations have been pretty consistent since then, with snow being seen in the desert every year since 2021. While deserts are associated with extreme heat, sub-zero temperatures are also possible at times in desert areas under the right conditions.
The sand that covers these deserts heats up quickly during the day, reaching temperatures of 30 to 40°C (86 to 104°F), but they lose the heat just as quickly under the cloudless winter nights.
This rapid cooling combined with a strong cold front usually results in extremely low temperatures and, at times, snow. One such event occurred in January 2005, when a record low of –14°C (6.8°F) was recorded in Algeria.
Winter air-circulation patterns direct cool and moist air masses from the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and partly the Indian Ocean toward the northern Sahara, increasing the likelihood of precipitation along the desert’s margins.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
Dear Watchers
Snow and frost aren’t that uncommon in the sahara. Especially at higher altitudes.
The thing is that records don’t always go back very far as in Europe. Not 200 years or more. Even in places where we know they have kept records in archives etc…these are not always consulted or compaired before making a statement.
Even records of rain in for instance the Eastern Sahara are scant for not many people live there.
J. M. van der Vijver