Rare Snow Dusts Las Vegas Strip And California Foothills (PHOTOS)

Areas in the Southwest that rarely experience snowfall are seeing white flurries during this record-breaking winter season.

On Thursday, half an inch of snow dusted the Las Vegas strip, stirring excitement among Nevada residents and tourists alike. According to the National Weather Service, the storm brought the first significant snowfall at McCarran International Airport in a decade with 0.8 inches falling by Thursday afternoon. Some low-elevated suburban areas near Las Vegas were white after getting several inches of snow, The Associated Press reported.

Snow also coated areas in southern California including the Santa Monica Mountains and the foothills of Calabasas. Gritty Los Angeles traffic was even temporarily halted on various state routes where the snow sticking to.

Check out photos of the rare snowfall in Las Vegas and Los Angeles below:

A dusting of snow covers an area along the Las Vegas Strip.

Snow-capped mountains are seen behind the Los Angeles' downtown skyline at dusk Thursday.

James Minner, of Las Vegas, left, and Candace Reid, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, watch as snow falls around the overlook at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area outside of Las Vegas on Wednesday.

This photo shows a snow covered entrance sign to Joshua Tree National Park on Thursday.

Snow falls on the Luxor hotel and casino Wednesday in Las Vegas.

A man walks near accumulated snow along the Las Vegas Strip.

Snow accumulates on a median along the Las Vegas Strip at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.

Mountains are blanketed with snow as traffic makes its way slowly through Cajon Pass on Interstate 15 near Highway 138 in Phelan, California.

Libby McClellan, of the San Francisco Bay area, takes a selfie with her father, Kevin, at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, west of Las Vegas.

A train rolls along the snow covered hills in the Cajon Pass near Highway 138 in Phelan, California.

Framed by a Joshua tree, Nancy Knapp visits the Red Rock National Conservation Area after a winter storm dropped several inches of snow near Las Vegas.

Valentina Gonzalez, 7, laughs after falling during a snowball fight with her family at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation, west of Las Vegas. In the background is her father, Omar Gonzalez, and her brother, Omar Jr.

Tomek Pleskaczynski moves his camera while taking pictures during a winter storm at Red Rock National Conservation Area near Las Vegas.

A landscape photographer takes a photo with a view camera at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, west of Las Vegas.

This photo provided by Kate Porter shows a fresh layer of snow fall outside of a home in Joshua Tree, California.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.