When you hear the word desert, your brain likely conjures images of vast, barren, sand-covered landscapes — but in August, the Atacama Desert looked anything but that.

Rare, widespread snow covered one of the most notoriously dry places on Earth, leaving it looking like a winter wonderland.

The weather behind the spectacle

A winter storm brought about the dramatic change between the first photo taken on Aug. 6 and the second taken on Aug. 14.

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But wait — winter storms in August?

Yes, remember that the Southern Hemisphere has opposite seasons from us in the Northern Hemisphere, so they are currently wrapping up their winter months.

Another winter storm passed through on Aug. 19, blanketing an even wider area with fresh snowfall, shown in the image below.

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So, how rare is this?

Although the Atacama Desert is typically dry, the region has seen snow before — most notably in 2025 and 2011 — but it is not a frequent occurrence by any means.

And what makes this event even more uncommon: the extent.

The storm that hit later in August brought snow all the way from the Andes to near the Pacific coast, making it unusually widespread.

August showers bring September flowers

But wait — there's more!

This influx of moisture from the rain and snow throughout the winter triggers a massive wildflower bloom across the desert. And we are already seeing the flowers begin to emerge.

So, not only do we get treated to a rare snow-covered desert, but also a lush, flower-covered desert.

Dark sky destination

And if you're about ready to add the Atacama Desert to your bucket list like me, then you should know it's also a premier spot for sky-watching too.

Due to its high altitude, extreme dryness and absence of light pollution, it's the perfect location for stargazing.

Caitlin Kaiser graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with both an undergraduate and graduate degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences before starting her career as a digital meteorologist with weather.com.