While the eastern US was hit by an exceptionally cold Arctic blast last weekend, another part of the world, much less familiar with winter, braced for similar weather on Sunday - the Sahara Desert.

The freak snow shower coated the giant sandy dunes of the Sahara, known first and foremost for its deadly, suffocating heat.

Sand dunes in the Sahara covered in snow. Credit:Shutterstock

The closest town, Ain Sefra in Algeria, hadn't had snow in nearly 40 years until it snowed last year.

In 1979, a similar snow storm lasted about 30 minutes.