Snow In The Desert: Joshua Tree Experiences Rare Winter Storm

Located in southern California, Joshua Tree National Park is known for many things — warm weather and geological wonders, to name a couple. Snow, on the other hand, is usually the last thing anyone would associate with this typically dry area. So, when snow began to fall at this beloved park just this week, you can bet that word quickly spread!

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As rare as snow is at Joshua Tree National Park, it’s not entirely unheard of. Records show that the park can expect a single snow event each year. This usually happens in January or February. But given the weather conditions leading up to Monday’s snow, this brief winter wonderland is all the more magical! Catch a glimpse in the video below.

“[The park] had an especially dry year with very little rain in the last six months, so snow is a welcome sight in the park, and is a good indicator for Joshua Tree blooms and wildflowers in the spring time,” a social media page all about the park shares. “Joshua Trees need a ‘cold snap’ to start their annual clock which then produces Joshua Tree blooms in February.”

Folks visiting the park around this time were in for quite a treat! One couple found themselves driving up to Keys View, a vista point, when the snow began to fall. Once they arrived at their destination, they were able to take a number of beautiful photos, as seen in the slideshow below.

The National Weather Service was unable to confirm exact snowfall totals. That said, it’s estimated that “more than trace amounts” fell. So, while it wasn’t a ton, it certainly was a beautiful sight to behold for this typically dry, warm area.

“It was all melted within an hour,” Jennie Kish Albrinck, a spokesperson for the park says, “but [it] looked beautiful while it was here.”

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!