A surprising winter landscape greeted tourists and locals alike in the Italian Alps. The Passo dei Salati, located at an altitude of 2,971 meters, has accumulated around 50 centimeters of fresh snow in recent hours.

Photos from the site show an impressive snow cover, unusual for this time of year. The region usually enjoys cool but still autumnal weather in late September, while the current landscape evokes midwinter.

Meteorologists say such phenomena are rare, but not impossible, in the high Alps. Although the snow is likely to melt in the coming days, the pass currently offers a spectacular view that surprises locals and tourists alike.