Brown snow explained

The recent snowstorm brought an unusual site to northern Minnesota and northwestern Ontario this week.

Brown snow.

The National Weather Service says it was the result of dust storms in the U.S. Southwest.

Strong winds carried the dust particles hundreds of kilometres away and into the system that brought snow to the region.

While rare, the weather phenomenon has occurred a few times since 2007 in other parts of North America.

There is no cause for concern, but there were advisories in some parts of the U.S. for those with respiratory problems.