Spring weather brings rain, hail, and strong winds across Morocco

Many regions in Morocco are experiencing notable weather fluctuations, including rain showers, occasional thunderstorms with hail, and locally strong winds, the Moroccan Directorate General of Meteorology said.

Authorities stressed that such conditions are typical of the spring season, which is characterized by rapid and sudden weather changes.

Hussein Youabed, head of communication at the meteorology directorate, told Hespress AR that the current rainfall and hail in some areas are part of the dynamic atmospheric patterns typical of the transitional spring period.

He explained that the weather is influenced by an Atlantic cut-off low-pressure system near the Moroccan coast, interacting with cold air masses at higher altitudes and warm, moist tropical air coming from the south.

This vertical temperature contrast contributes to atmospheric instability and the development of cumulonimbus clouds, which can lead to thunderstorms occasionally accompanied by hail and strong local winds. Youabed noted that spring weather generally results from the interaction of cold northern air masses with relatively warm air, generating localized heavy rain and hailstorms.

Regarding potential links to climate change, Youabed emphasized the distinction between short-term weather events and long-term climate patterns, noting that most of these disturbances are natural phenomena typical of seasonal transitions. He added that climate change may increase the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events in the future.

Forecasts indicate an unstable week ahead. Tuesday is expected to bring relatively cold weather, particularly over the Atlas Mountains, with heavy rain and occasional thunderstorms potentially accompanied by hail in the High and Middle Atlas, Rahamneh, phosphate plateaus, Oulmes, and eastern regions.

Lighter, scattered rainfall is expected in the southeast, Rif, and northwestern desert areas, with snow possible on mountain peaks and strong winds along the Tangier and Mediterranean coasts.

Unstable conditions are expected to continue Wednesday, with locally strong thunderstorms affecting the High and Low Atlas, Souss, southeastern regions, and Abda, while light to moderate rain will occur in the eastern regions, Middle Atlas, and northern southern provinces. Snowfall is expected to persist over the highlands, with temperatures dropping notably, especially in the southeast.

On Thursday, unstable weather is forecast to continue, with locally heavy thunderstorms in the southeast, eastern regions, High and Middle Atlas, and phosphate plateaus, alongside scattered showers in Saïs, Rif, and western Atlas areas, light rain over the northern Atlas plains, and snow over the peaks.

Winds are expected to remain strong in several areas, with temperatures slightly rising in the south and falling elsewhere.

From Friday onward, unsettled conditions are likely to persist, particularly in the northern half of the country and northern desert regions.

Relatively strong winds are expected across southern provinces, the Atlas Mountains, and eastern regions, with daytime temperatures slightly decreasing, reflecting continued instability throughout much of Morocco.