The Sahara Desert has been hit by an icy explosion with temperatures dropping below freezing.
Snow also covered parts of Saudi Arabia where the mercury reached 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
A photographer has captured images of camels after a snowfall in the Tabuk region of northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The area – which is close to the border with Jordan – experienced unusual weather this month.
The desert kingdom can experience peaks of up to 122 degrees during the hot season, but this month temperatures dropped below 32 degrees.
On January 10, locals in the mountainous area were treated to a flurry of snow.
Freezing temperatures
This week, snow also fell near the desert town of Aïn Séfra in Algeria.
Photographer Karim Bouchetata took incredible photos of ice on the sand in the small desert town in the Sahara.
Sheep were seen on the ice-covered dunes on Wednesday as the temperature dropped to 26.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Aïn Séfra – known as “The Gateway to the Desert” – is located about 1000 meters above sea level and is surrounded by the Atlas Mountains.
Saudi Arabia also experienced snow in 2018, and the locals had fun sledging and snowballing.
Snow also fell in Lebanon, Syria and Iran – where some regions were buried below four feet.
January is the coldest month in Saudi Arabia, with mercury averaging 68.36 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tabuk is one of the coldest regions in the country, but usually has dry weather with average temperatures of 39.2 degrees.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Eric Leister said that while it is rare to see snow in the region, it is not entirely uncommon.
Researchers studying changes in rainfall in the Sahara found that the desert has grown significantly over the past century as a result of climate change.
Professor Sumant Nigam, an atmospheric and oceanic scientist at the University of Maryland and the study’s senior author, said, “Our results are specific to the Sahara, but they are likely to affect the other deserts of the world.”
It comes as parts of the UK brace themselves for days of downpours, with forecasters warning of fast-flowing floods causing a “life threatening”.
Up to four feet of torrential rain are now tipped to drench England and Wales early this week, prompting multiple weather warnings.
The Met Office has now issued an Amber and Yellow warning for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, stating that Britons should expect “heavy and prolonged” downpours with melting snow causing flooding.