This is a rare sight indeed. The first week of January saw an extremely rare storm blanket the Sahara with snow.

Photo Credit: Facebook, Riyadh Riyadh Hai Yaar
It was only the third snowfall in the Sahara in the last 40 years, and the photos that people took make the desert look like a different planet.

Photo Credit: Twitter, JonathanArnott
Breathtaking view of the Sahara adorned with snow pic.twitter.com/bOOcWAM0WJ
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) January 9, 2018

Photo Credit: Twitter, Zeddie101
Locals even used the occasion to sled down the snow covered sand dunes.T
For the 3rd time in 40 years snow falls in the Sahara: Locals sled on a sand dune in the world’s largest deserthttps://t.co/tioLk63noQ pic.twitter.com/QlGrwey2yc
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) January 9, 2018
This photo really captures just how much snow fell in the Sahara.

Photo Credit: Twitter, WMO
With the weather so unpredictable, will we see another snowfall in the hottest desert in the world sooner than later?
h/t: Thrillist