Orange Snow Falls in Russia

Orange snow fell in Omsk, in southwestern Siberia, that covered an area of 1500 square kilometers and 100 kilometers long in early February, as reported by the Russian News Agency, TASS. The snow covered five inhabited region in Northern Omsk, and officials are as yet stumped as to where the polluted snow came from. The snow averaged a half-centimeter in depth.

Preliminary testing has shown that the snow is not radioactive, and that the toxicity levels in the snow are fairly normal for that area. However, the coloration of the snow, that ranges from light yellow to orange has not been explained by testing so far. The

The snow has been described as "oily to the touch." The snow also has a distinctly rotten smell. Residents in the area have be told to say indoors and not to let pets outdoors as well. Authorities have also warned against using the snow for any household purposes. Even though the first tests have shown no out of average toxicity, there is obviously something in the snow that is most likely from unnatural causes. One Russian official has said that there have been other reports of colored snow in Russia, and some reasons have been attributed to sand or seaweed. However, some cases were man-made.

The number of people affected by this snow number close to 27,000. Light yellow snow was also observed in the Tomsk region. The snow is even more unsettling as these regions are mostly agricultural areas, and known for the clarity of the water and snow in particular. The region grows mostly clean crops.

Other news services have reported that the snow also included green colors, so maybe the seaweed story will be the reason for the abnormal snow. The only problem with that explanation is that Omsk sits in the middle of Asia, and not close to any major body of water, so the seaweed would have had to travel for quite some distance, and over mountains from some directions. Sand is a likelier cause, but the oily quality and stench makes that explanation suspect.

So far no health problems have been reported. The snow is most heavily dispersed over a smaller inhabited area of only 3,000 residents, but more reports of this strangely colored snowfall are being reported in an area to the west of Omsk.

Regional Civil Defense and Emergency Situations Department is investigating the cause of the snow, and they are working with meteorology experts.