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Snow falls in Kuwait for 'first time ever'

Temperatures have fallen in Kuwait and a small amount of snow has fallen in the country
A car user in Kuwait shares a photo of his vehicle covered with snow (MEE)

Snow fell on Kuwait on Thursday morning for the first time in the country's history, pictures sent to Middle East Eye show.

Footage sent to MEE showed snow flakes falling in the Gulf state, where temperatures have plummeted in recent days.

https://twitter.com/roridonaghy/status/692652509681303553

Photos showed Kuwait's desert landscape dusted with a sprinkling of snow.

https://twitter.com/roridonaghy/status/692652176297082880

Temperatures in Kuwait soar up to 50C in the summer months and even in winter 20C is the norm. However, on Thursday the temperature was as low as 3C.

There is no record of snow having fallen in Kuwait before, although the emirate has experienced hail and frost in the past when temperatures have fallen in the winter.

A Kuwaiti told MEE that Thursday's snow was a first for the country.

"I asked my grandfather, he said there has never been snow before," they said, preferring to remain anonymous. "Everyone is surprised."

While snow is unheard of in Kuwait, in neighbouring Saudi Arabia the north of the country regularly sees snowfall.

In the city of Rafha on Thursday temperatures fell to -2C. Photos and footage sent to MEE showed the ground covered in snow.

https://twitter.com/roridonaghy/status/692656061854175232
https://twitter.com/roridonaghy/status/692656321498345472

Temperatures are expected to recover quickly in Kuwait, with predictions for the rest of the week of highs of 20C. In northern Saudi Arabia, the weather is also set to improve, and temperatures will increase to a high of 19C.

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