Morocco is bracing for heavy rainfall this week as a wider weather disturbance affects parts of the Atlantic and the Iberian Peninsula, with Spain and Portugal also preparing for severe conditions linked to two named systems, Bruna and Charles.
The systems are expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas across parts of the region. However, forecasts do not point to a single storm affecting all three countries in the same way. Each country’s meteorological service has issued separate warnings, with different rainfall estimates, affected areas and timelines.
For Morocco, the immediate concern is in the north, where the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) has forecast rainfall of between 60 and 80 millimeters across five provinces from Wednesday, Nov. 11, through Thursday morning.
Taounate, Taza, Chefchaouen, Ouezzane and Al Hoceima are under an orange-level alert for rainfall of 60 to 80 mm between noon Wednesday and 10 a.m. Thursday.
A separate warning covers parts of the south, where Essaouira, Agadir Ida-Outanane, Chtouka Ait Baha, Inezgane-Ait Melloul and Taroudant could receive between 40 and 60 mm of rain from early Thursday until midday.
The DGM has also warned of wind gusts reaching 70 to 80 kilometers per hour in several provinces. The alerts apply to specific locations and time windows, rather than indicating that the entire country will experience the same conditions.
The DGM’s rainfall warning map shows the northern provinces facing the highest forecast totals, at 60 to 80 mm, while the listed southern provinces are covered by a 40 to 60 mm alert.
What is happening across Spain and Portugal?
Across the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has warned of heavy rainfall associated with Bruna, followed by further deterioration as Charles approaches from the southwest.
Wednesday is expected to be among the most difficult days, with rainfall forecast across western, southern and central parts of the country. Some areas could receive between 40 and 60 mm, while parts of the western Sistema Central could record more than 150 mm.
AEMET has also warned of wind gusts reaching 90 to 100 kilometers per hour in parts of southwestern Spain, as well as waves of up to five meters in the Gulf of Cádiz.
The highest rainfall estimates apply to specific areas and should not be interpreted as forecasts for the entire country. AEMET’s warnings are also issued at a more detailed regional level than provincial boundaries. As a result, a province may appear on a warning map because one of its subregions is under alert, even if the warning does not cover the entire province.
Portugal is also preparing for heavy rain and strong winds, although its meteorological service describes Bruna and Charles as two separate systems.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) said Bruna was expected to remain almost stationary northwest of the Iberian Peninsula until Friday, while Charles was moving east toward mainland Portugal.
IPMA warned that Charles could bring heavy rainfall across mainland Portugal from late Wednesday morning, accompanied by strong winds and rough seas. The agency said the storm’s exact trajectory and intensity remained uncertain.
Madeira was also expected to face particularly severe conditions, with rainfall potentially exceeding 100 mm in 12 hours in some locations, especially in mountainous areas.
For mainland Portugal, warnings cover districts across the country, but the alert categories do not specify numerical rainfall estimates for every district. The forecasts are therefore not directly comparable with Morocco’s province-by-province rainfall projections.
The differing warning systems and forecast periods underline the importance of checking each country’s official meteorological updates rather than treating regional weather maps as evidence of one uniform storm affecting the entire area.
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