A wave of extreme heat is expected to sweep across several regions of Morocco this weekend, coinciding with the Eid al-Adha holiday, according to an alert issued Thursday by the country’s national meteorological agency.
In an orange-level warning, the Directorate of National Meteorology forecast temperatures ranging from 38 to 43 degrees Celsius (100–109 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday and Sunday, June 7–8. The heat is set to impact multiple provinces, including Ouezzane, Guercif, Taza, Taounate, Khouribga, Fquih Ben Salah, Settat and Kalaat Sraghna.
Houcine Youaabed, spokesperson for the meteorology office, said the country is expected to experience a noticeable rise in temperatures, especially in the northern and central interior, the Rif Mountains, the Atlas regions, the eastern highlands and the southeast.
Alongside the high temperatures, localized thunderstorms are likely to develop over the Rif, the Middle Atlas, the Saïss region and parts of eastern Morocco. Partly cloudy skies are also forecast over the phosphate plateaus, the Middle Atlas foothills and the eastern Mediterranean coastline.
Morning and nighttime fog patches are expected to form near northern and central Atlantic coasts, while moderately strong winds are forecast for the Eastern region, the High and Middle Atlas, southeastern Morocco and southern coastal areas.
The heatwave is projected to persist into early next week, with hot to very hot weather continuing through Tuesday, June 10. A gradual decrease in temperatures is expected to begin Tuesday.
Youaabed attributed the hot spell to the presence of a Saharan thermal low-pressure system, which is drawing dry, hot air masses from the desert. This system is pushing temperatures as much as 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages, particularly in southern and inland areas. Meanwhile, a stable Azores high-pressure system is maintaining calmer weather conditions along the northern and central Atlantic coasts.
On Friday, June 6, conditions will remain relatively hot across the western foothills of the Atlas Mountains, the southern Rif, eastern Morocco, the southeast and parts of the southern provinces. Unstable cloud formations may bring occasional showers and thunderstorms to the Middle Atlas, northern High Atlas and the eastern highlands. Some of these systems may also reach the Saïss and eastern Rif.
Fog is likely to develop along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines during the early morning and evening hours. Localized dust storms and strong winds are expected in the southeastern and southern regions, including the southern parts of the Eastern region and the western Sahara.
Residents and travelers are advised to take precautions during the heatwave and to remain informed through official weather bulletins.
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