Rare desert snowfalls that shocked the world in the last five years: From Saudi dunes to the Atacama plains, where sand meets snow

Deserts are most commonly associated with extreme heat, dunes, and overall arid conditions. But in the past five years, there have been instances of snowfall in various deserts around the world, leading to some breathtaking sights in what were expected until then as arid environments. The instances of snowfall in these deserts draw our attention not only because of the photographs they create but also because they highlight how diverse the conditions tend to be in our environment, despite the location being so arid and hot.

Check below the list of deserts where the rarest deserts meet with a blanket of snow.

List of deserts that surprised the world with snow in the past few years

Deserts that saw snow in the last five years

Saudi Arabian Desert

In the latter part of 2025, the northern region of Saudi Arabia, specifically around Tabuk and Hail, got to see a phenomenon of snowfall. Mountains such as Al-Lawz, topped with thick snow, made for a striking contrast to the sand. This came in the midst of a cold wave, which caused sub-zero temperatures, hail, and rain, covering camels and dunes in snow.

Atacama Desert, Chile

The Atacama Desert, known as the driest place on Earth, registered a snowstorm in the month of June 2025. The snow occurred at high levels of the Altiplano region, including elevations above 5,000 meters. The effect of the snow was also temporarily observed at some observatories, including ALMA, because it is a region that goes decades without experiencing any snow.

Katpana Cold Desert, Pakistan

Katpana Desert, in Gilgit-Baltistan, is also referred to as the Cold Desert and receives seasonal snow. Located more than 2,200 meters above sea level, the dunes in this desert are also frequently turned into a winter wonderland due to the presence of snow. Unlike other deserts, the snow in this desert is quite forecastable and draws adventure tourists in large numbers.

Taklamakan Desert, China

The Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang is normally arid and cold during the winter season. However, during 2020 and the mid-2020s, it experienced abnormal snowfall. The major occurrence in December 2024 is just one of the recent instances of snowfall in the region that proves even the "Sea of Death" can witness a surprise in the Winter Season.

Northern Sahara Desert, Algeria and Morocco

Although these occurrences were not limited to the past five years, snow has been recorded in regions around the Atlas Mountains within northern Algeria, specifically in the Sahara desert, during 2021 and 2022. The snow-covered dunes within settlements such as An-Sfra provided a surreal landscape in one of the hottest deserts globally.

Understanding rare desert snowfalls

Snowfall in the desert environment happens under highly unique climatic conditions, which include the presence of unusual cold air masses, topographical elevation, and weather systems. Snowfall in these regions has also been observed to be a rarity since the desert has lower humidity and precipitation. The phenomenon of snowfall not only offers breathtaking scenery to buffs, but it also serves as an opportunity to learn more about the impacts of climate change. To tourists, the sight of snow-capped dunes also throws light on the unpredictability of nature.