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Updated Jan 27 2022 07:27AM EST

Yes, it snows in Israel

Snow covers Jerusalem January 10, 2013. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Snow in the Middle East?

It’s actually more common than you would think.

In Israel there’s even a ski resort in the Golan Heights.

Mt. Hermon Ski Resort in Israel. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Visitors ride the ski list as they enjoy a break in the winter weather on the snow-covered slopes February 16, 2005 of Mt. Hermon in the Golan Heights. (Photo: David Silverman/Getty Images)

Flurries can also be found further south in Jerusalem which at times does see accumulating snowfall.

A boy builds a snow man at the Western Wall on January 9, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
A man walks between palm trees during a snowfall February 26, 2003 outside the Old City in East Jerusalem. A second day of a severe snow storm has kept the holy city largely paralyzed with schools closed and many businesses shut. (Photo: David Silverman/Getty Images)
A man walks in the snow at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s old city on February 17, 2021 in Jerusalem, Israel. Snow covered the city as wintery weather hits Israel. (Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images)
A man walks in the snow ahead of Shabat (Saturday), in the Mea Shearim Jewish neighborhood on December 13, 2013, in Jerusalem, Israel. Heavy storms continued throughout Israel on Friday, causing traffic disruptions and power outages across the country. (Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Snow isn’t new to the Middle East but it is very rare and usually only lasts a day or two before it melts.

Israel isn’t the only spot in the Middle East that sees snow.

Snow in the Midian mountainous region of Saudi Arabia near the border with Jordan in 2013. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Snow can also be found in parts of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Originally Published Jan 26, 2022 02:58PM EST

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Unpacked Staff

People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.