Morocco is experiencing an unusual heatwave this week, with temperatures soaring well above seasonal norms across the country’s southern and interior regions, according to the national meteorological service.
Temperatures have climbed between 5 to 12 degrees Celsius above average for this time of year, reaching their peak on Wednesday. Several cities, including Smara, Sidi Slimane, Tit Mellil, Benguerir, Beni Mellal, and Marrakech, recorded highs exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104°F), said Hussein Youabed, communications officer at the Directorate of National Meteorology.
The heatwave has been attributed to the northward extension of a Saharan thermal depression, which brought hot and dry air masses to much of the country. Even coastal cities like Casablanca, Essaouira, and Safi have experienced unusually high temperatures, Youabed told local media.
Although heatwaves are not uncommon during the seasonal transition into summer, Youabed warned that their increasing frequency and intensity in recent years reflect the mounting impact of climate change. “We are observing more extreme and irregular temperature patterns,” he said.
The meteorological authority forecasts that hot conditions will persist through Saturday, particularly in the northern and central plains, the southeastern regions, and the interior of the southern provinces. Expected highs range from 37 to 45 degrees Celsius (98.6°F to 113°F), especially in the western Atlas, the Saïs plain, and the Moulouya Valley. Cooler temperatures, between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius, are expected in the Atlas Mountains.
Unstable weather conditions are also forecast in the High and Middle Atlas ranges, with strong thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds likely. Isolated showers may affect areas including the phosphate plateau, Rehamna, the Rif Mountains, the Anti-Atlas, and inland Souss.
Low cloud cover and morning fog are expected along the Atlantic coast, while wind activity is predicted to be moderate to strong in various regions. Localized dust storms are also possible in the southern provinces.
A slight drop in temperatures is expected in northern and central Morocco from Sunday through Tuesday. However, heat is expected to persist in the southeast and eastern regions, with another gradual rise in temperatures anticipated from next Wednesday.
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