- The US Southwest is experiencing an unusual amount of snowfall and cold weather.
- Some areas have seen the lowest high temperatures in five years.
- Other areas that are usually cold, such as Alaska, had a relatively warm New Year's Day.
Red rocks and saguaro cactus plants in the US Southwest were covered in snow this week, creating an unusual scene on New Year's Day.
Western states have seen a lot more snow than the East Coast over the past month, and more high temperatures in the single digits are coming.
Glenn Lader, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Tucson, Arizona, told the Associated Press that the snow and cold is "quite uncommon" for the Southwest.
Read more: Frigid temperatures chill southern Arizona, much of West
Many stunning photos of the region have circulated since New Year's Day, showing the desert in a blanket of snow. Take a look at some of the images below.