Most roads reopen as winter storms ease, but 11 routes still block access

Most of the roads disrupted by weeks of winter weather across Morocco have now been reopened, but a small number of key mountain and rural routes remain closed, leaving some communities isolated as cold conditions and snowfall persist in high altitude areas.

According to a noon bulletin issued on Tuesday by the General Directorate of Roads, 79 road sections were affected nationwide by snow, flooding and severe weather since 12 December. 

Sixty-eight of those sections had been reopened by midday, while 11 routes remained closed, largely in mountainous provinces and at vulnerable river crossings.

The remaining closures are concentrated in the Middle Atlas and High Atlas ranges, particularly in the provinces of Ifrane, Midelt, Azilal, Tinghir, Taza and Beni Mellal. One coastal section of the RN1 linking Essaouira and Agadir also remained cut at a river crossing, with traffic diverted inland.

The disruption has been caused by successive Atlantic cold fronts that have crossed Morocco over the past two weeks. 

Between 24 and 27 December, several provinces recorded snowfall of up to 40 centimetres in mountainous areas, while heavy rain affected lower elevations under orange-level weather alerts, according to official forecasts and local media.

Earlier warnings had forecast snow above 1,500 to 1,700 metres, strong winds and widespread rainfall, creating a cycle in which roads were reopened only to be closed again as fresh snow accumulated. 

On Monday, further alerts warned of continued cold conditions, renewed snowfall in parts of the High Atlas and thunderstorms along sections of the Atlantic coast, increasing the risk of additional short-term disruptions.

Authorities say resources have been mobilised to restore access. In Midelt province, a helicopter operated by the Royal Gendarmerie was deployed to deliver food and medical supplies to isolated nomadic families and to assess their health while ground access remains limited. 

Local vigilance committees have coordinated snow-clearing operations in several districts, supported by heavy machinery and road crews.

Provincial officials said snow depth exceeded one metre in parts of Midelt and reached up to three metres on some road sections in Tinghir and Azilal, levels described by local media as exceptional.

 The Ministry of Equipment and Water said its teams were working continuously to clear snow and reopen routes in provinces including Boulemane, Khénifra, Beni Mellal, Azilal, Chichaoua and Al Haouz.

Despite the reopening of most roads, some rural communities remain cut off. In Boulemane province, heavy snowfall blocked access to the hamlet of Al Massarih near Outat El Haj, leaving residents isolated for several days and raising concerns about access to food, fuel and medical care. 

Local civil society groups have urged authorities to accelerate snow-clearing efforts, warning that prolonged isolation poses serious risks as temperatures remain low.

Transport disruption has also affected urban centres and tourist areas. In Ifrane, vehicles and buses were stranded over the weekend on roads linking the town to Azrou, Timahdite, El Hajeb and Boulemane.

 Traffic was allowed to move only in escorted convoys on some routes, while heavy vehicles and trailers were barred from others. 

Schools were closed across regions, and at least one examination was postponed as a precaution.

Emergency services have also been used to evacuate patients from remote areas.