By: Alex
Cacti are iconic plants of desert regions, and they are generally not associated with cold or moisture. However, nature always has some surprises in store. Recently, a cold front hit Arizona, USA, causing a sudden drop in temperature and bringing snow. Famous attractions such as the Grand Canyon and several desert areas were transformed into white wonderlands — a rare sight indeed.
▲photo by azIllustrated @Twitter
Locals also seemed quite excited about the snowfall, and social media was soon flooded with photos of the snowy landscapes. In the Sonoran Desert in southwestern Arizona, home to many towering Saguaro cacti, the area’s signature plants are known for their impressive size, growing up to over 20 meters tall. When snow fell on these giant cacti, from a distance it looked as if they were all wearing little white “hats” to keep warm.
▲photo by azIllustrated @Twitter
As for the Grand Canyon, it was no less stunning. Due to the steep cliffs, snow doesn’t accumulate easily, and the thin layer of snow actually highlighted the reddish hues of the rock formations, turning the canyon into a giant frosted cake. The snowy desert instantly turned an otherwise barren landscape into a fairytale-like world.
▲photo by SirlinJohn @Twitter
According to reports, Tucson near the Sonoran Desert received 1 cm of snow, while the highest snowfall in Arizona reached 46 cm. However, the cold front that brought the snow is not expected to last long, as warmer air from the south is forecasted to arrive soon, causing temperatures to rise again.
▲photo by SirlinJohn @Twitter
▲photo by 1NativeSoilNerd @Twitter
▲photo by MattPaceWeather @Twitter
▲photo by Cassyarch @Twitter
▲photo by CheyneWalls @Twitter
▲photo by Sarai_AZ @Twitter
▲photo by SirlinJohn @Twitter
▲photo by Willi_H2O @Twitter
▲photo by Willi_H2O @Twitter
Source: My Modern Met, Wikipedia