Morocco has entered a turbulent start to the week as an upper level cut off low settles over the west then the center, accompanied by what the national weather service described as an “extension of a weak surface low,” a setup that “enhances thermal lift and instability, especially with humidity coming from the Atlantic facade.”
Houcine Youabed said the pattern will trigger “sometimes thundery showers” across the Rif, the Atlantic plains, Saiss, the Atlas ranges and Souss, with “the possibility of local hail,” alongside snowfall over the High and Middle Atlas.
The General Directorate of Meteorology also expects relatively strong winds in Tangier, the central coasts, the southeast and the southern provinces, plus “blowing sand in some eastern and southern areas.”
Conditions should trend toward a “relative improvement” by the end of the week as the upper low weakens and the Atlantic high builds.
In an orange level alert bulletin No. 2026/49 issued Monday, the agency warned of heavy snowfall above 1,400 metres from Tuesday 00:00 to Thursday 06:00.
Accumulations are forecast at 25 to 35 cm in Taroudant, Al Haouz, Azilal and Ouarzazate, and 15 to 25 cm in Midelt, Beni Mellal, Ifrane, Khenifra, Boulemane, Chichaoua and Tinghir.
It also forecast “thundery showers with the possibility of hail” at 30 to 40 mm on Monday from 13:00 to 23:00 across Al Hoceima, Sefrou, Fez, Moulay Yacoub, Taounate, Meknes, El Hajeb, Ifrane, Sidi Kacem, Sidi Slimane, Khemisset and Khenifra.
Rainfall of 25 to 35 mm is expected Tuesday morning in Essaouira, Safi, Tiznit, Taroudant, Inzegane Ait Melloul, Chtouka Ait Baha, Agadir Ida Outanane and Sidi Ifni, while totals could reach 40 to 60 mm from Tuesday afternoon to midday Wednesday in M’diq Fnideq, Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Fahs Anjra and Tangier Assilah.
Strong winds of 75 to 85 km/h with “blowing dust” are forecast Tuesday afternoon in Tinghir, Ouarzazate, Zagora, Errachidia, Midelt, Boulemane, Figuig and Jerada.
An orange cold alert is in place for Wednesday, with minimum temperatures ranging from 3C to minus 9C in Beni Mellal, Azilal, Al Haouz, Tinghir, Midelt and Ouarzazate. The agency urged “caution” in areas affected by heavy thunderstorms, strong winds and sharp overnight temperature drops.
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