Morocco's heatwave expands as hot desert winds push temperatures toward 46°C

Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) says the intense heatwave affecting much of the country through the end of the week is being driven by the expansion of a Saharan thermal low-pressure system and the continued influence of hot, dry Chergui winds.

Responding to questions from Hespress, the national weather agency said the Saharan thermal depression has extended northward, allowing hot, dry air masses from the Sahara to spread across central and northern Morocco.

The phenomenon has significantly widened the geographical extent of the heatwave, with temperatures continuing to climb through Friday.

“At the beginning of the week, the highest temperatures were concentrated in the southeast and the southern provinces before gradually extending toward the northern and central Atlantic plains,” the DGM said.

The agency said the continued influence of Chergui winds, coupled with the weakening cooling effect of the Atlantic Ocean, has pushed unusually high temperatures into coastal cities, including Casablanca, Rabat, Salé and El Jadida.

Houcine Youabed, the DGM’s head of communications, said another contributing factor is the Foehn effect, a meteorological phenomenon in which air becomes warmer and drier after descending mountain slopes.

“As air masses cross the Atlas Mountains and descend toward the western plains, they become hotter and drier, leading to temperatures above seasonal averages even in areas relatively close to the coast, particularly in the Loukkos and Gharb regions,” Youabed said.

The weather agency on Wednesday issued an updated Orange Alert extending the heatwave through Friday.

Maximum temperatures of 44 to 46 degrees Celsius are forecast in the provinces of Zagora, Tata, Assa-Zag, Boujdour, Es-Semara, Oued Ed-Dahab and Aousserd.

Temperatures between 41 and 44 degrees Celsius are expected in Kenitra, Taounate, Meknes, Fez, Moulay Yacoub, Khemisset, Sidi Kacem, Sidi Slimane, Khouribga, Fquih Ben Salah, Settat, Youssoufia, Rehamna, Kelaat Sraghna, Chichaoua, Marrakesh and Taroudant.

The alert also covers Larache, Salé, Rabat, Skhirate-Témara, Nouaceur, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Berrechid, Benslimane, Mediouna, El Jadida, Sidi Bennour, Essaouira, Safi, Ouezzane, Khénifra and Beni Mellal, where temperatures are forecast to range between 38 and 41 degrees Celsius through Friday.

In addition to the heatwave, the DGM issued an Orange Alert for thunderstorms capable of producing 15 to 25 millimeters of rainfall, accompanied by strong wind gusts and hail, in the provinces of Taourirt, Jerada, Tinghir and Zagora on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

The agency said Chergui winds are expected to persist throughout the week, maintaining hot conditions across inland areas, the southeast and the southern provinces while extending the heat into parts of the Atlantic plains.

Moderate to locally strong winds are also forecast in southern and eastern Morocco, with blowing sand and dust expected to reduce visibility in some areas.

Strong daytime heating combined with moisture in the upper atmosphere could also trigger localized thunderstorms over the Atlas Mountains, the southeast and the Oriental region during the afternoon, the agency said.

Youabed said temperatures are expected to remain well above seasonal norms across most of Morocco despite a slight and temporary decrease in some regions on Thursday and Friday.

Highs are forecast to range between 40 and 47 degrees Celsius in the southern provinces, the southeast, the Souss region, the Tadla and Rehamna plains, Oulmès, and inland parts of Gharb and Saïss. Temperatures between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius are expected in the Atlas Mountains, the northern Rif, the Mediterranean coast, northern Oriental region and parts of the southern Atlantic coast, while most other regions will see highs ranging from 26 to 40 degrees Celsius.

The DGM urged residents to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, stay hydrated, pay particular attention to children and older adults, and follow official weather updates as forecasts continue to be revised.