Strange Phenomenon: Blue Snow Blankets Russian City After Meteor Crash

Residents of Chelyabinsk, located in the Ural Mountains in Russia, were stunned to find blue snow blanketing the industrial area on the city's outskirts. Following an especially cold night this past week, the locals awoke to the strange phenomenon - snow that had turned blue. Concerns arose that the snow might contain hazardous chemicals.

The same city witnessed another unusual event in 2013 - the crash of a meteor. "When the sun came up, everyone noticed the roofs were blue, the parking lots were blue," Dmitri, a city resident, told RT network. "We started to almost panic."

The blue snow

The resident reported to a Russian TV channel that people complained of sore throats, but tests indicated the snow was likely tinted blue due to a leak of color powder from a nearby factory, which plant officials claim poses no health risk. According to this explanation, the powder dispersed in the air, infiltrated the snow, and as the snow melted, it turned the ground blue.

It should be noted that a week prior to the appearance of the blue snow, residents of Saratov reported seeing snow in shades ranging from light yellow to dark orange. Fears arose they might be experiencing vision problems. Local media returned with expert findings that reassured the community - sand carried to Russia from the Sahara was what colored the snow orange.