Rare snowfall makes Arizona desert and Grand Canyon look otherworldly (PHOTOS)

The new year brought a new look for deserts in Arizona, as a rare snowfall blanketed the typically arid landscape.

The powder sprinkled across the Saguaro National Park and Grand Canyon, providing quite a treat for the eyes and the Instagram feed.

 

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A post shared by The Man With X-ray Vision (@the_man_with_xray_vision) on Jan 2, 2019 at 10:34pm PST

While some areas of Arizona such as Flagstaff are no strangers to snow and may receive up to six inches per year, this type of weather is highly unseasonable for areas such as Tucson, as well as Albuquerque, New Mexico.

As if the Grand Canyon wasn’t magical enough on a regular day, these photos show the iconic national park in a whole new light.

 

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A post shared by Yahoo UK & Ireland (@yahoouk) on Jan 3, 2019 at 8:39am PST

 

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A post shared by Chris Cortolillo (@cortolillo) on Jan 1, 2019 at 9:10pm PST

 

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A post shared by VisitGrandCanyon.com (@visitgrandcanyon) on Jan 1, 2019 at 9:41am PST

 

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A post shared by Erin Red (@erin_goes_for_a_walk) on Dec 31, 2018 at 8:00pm PST

The snowfall stretched across the Sonoran desert, coating the classic saguaro cacti in a way that contradicts our usual perception of the landscape being hot and dry.

 

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A post shared by Karen McCrorey (@cherokeelion) on Jan 1, 2019 at 12:54pm PST

 

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A post shared by Bethany D. (@monodialogue) on Jan 1, 2019 at 6:37pm PST

 

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A post shared by Andrew Bohme (@acbohme) on Jan 2, 2019 at 8:33am PST

 

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A post shared by LIsa Brosky (@lgbrosky) on Jan 2, 2019 at 5:12pm PST

 

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A post shared by Andrew (@andy.and.beyond) on Jan 3, 2019 at 10:54am PST

 

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A post shared by Karen McCrorey (@cherokeelion) on Jan 2, 2019 at 7:05am PST

 

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A post shared by Sean Davis (@davywandergrizz) on Jan 2, 2019 at 11:58am PST

Between this scene and the stunning natural light phenomenon witnessed in the Manitoba skies, we can’t wait to see what other beautiful surprises Mother Nature has in store for us in 2019.