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Morocco is experiencing increasingly extreme weather events that reflect the growing impact of climate disruption worldwide. Published on June 18, the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) State of the Climate in Africa 2025 report shows that weather- and climate-related disasters affected at least 13 million people across the continent and claimed more than 3,000 lives last year.
The WMO’s review of major weather and climate events also notes that Morocco has been affected by persistent drought for several years, with six consecutive years of below-average rainfall between 2019 and 2024, including the 2023/2024 hydrological year, the driest ever recorded. The 2024/2025 season was likewise «drier than normal, despite heavy rains in March 2025».
Snow and rain break the cycle
According to the report, it was the rains of December 2025 and early 2026 that «considerably eased» the drought, although they also triggered flooding. The WMO recalls the tragedy in Safi, where 52 people lost their lives in floods on December 14. It also notes that «significant snowfall was observed at high altitudes, with accumulations exceeding 100 cm recorded as of December 17 in several locations».
The report highlights the role of snow cover «in the feedback mechanisms of the climate system». In this regard, it notes that «Morocco experienced an exceptional winter in 2025/26, with snow and low temperatures in many mountain areas, as well as heavy snowfall during the second half of December 2025».
As a result, «the snow cover, extending across both the High and Middle Atlas, reached 55,495 km², its largest daily extent in the past nine years for the October-to-December period». The report adds that «significant snow depths were measured, exceeding 100 cm in many places», while «a depth of 166 cm was measured on December 18, 2025, in Anemzi, in Midelt province, at an altitude of 2,294 meters».
«This snow, which melts gradually during the boreal spring, provides sustainable recharge for underground aquifers, which are essential for water supply», the report notes.
While the WMO says last winter helped break a prolonged cycle of drought, Morocco was not spared rising temperatures, as illustrated by the heatwaves that struck between June and August 2025.
After the rains, an unusually warm spring
Following a winter marked by abundant rain and snowfall, spring 2026 also proved warmer than average. Findings published on June 18 by Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) point to a transition «from winter cold to the first heatwaves».
According to the DGM, «spring 2026 was marked by strong weather variability», ranging from «late cold spells and spring snowfall over the Atlas mountains to early heatwaves».
The season recorded «a national temperature anomaly of +0.29°C compared with the 1991-2020 average», although this remained well below the anomalies observed in spring 2023 (+2.05°C) and spring 2024 (+1.18°C).
Rainfall conditions also improved. «The national deficit stood at -9.6%, a situation relatively close to normal and far less severe than in spring 2023 (-57.6%) and 2024 (-17.3%)». After a rainfall surplus of +30.3% in spring 2025, spring 2026 marked «a return to conditions closer to climatic averages», according to the DGM.
These fluctuations were particularly noticeable between March 3 and 13, when «a late cold spell» brought «minimum temperatures of -5.2°C in Midelt, 1.9°C in Khouribga and 2.0°C in Taza», making March 2026 «the tenth-coldest March since 1981». Between May 14 and 20, «a cool spell caused late snowfall in the High and Middle Atlas».
Anticipation, a matter of urgency in Africa
The cold spell was quickly followed by an «early heatwave» from May 20 to 27, with temperatures exceeding 43°C.
«Maximum temperatures reached 43.6°C in Sidi Slimane, 43.7°C in Taroudant and 43.8°C in Es-Semara. In Safi, a new monthly record was set at 42.5°C on May 25, 2026, surpassing the previous record of 40.5°C set in May 2001», the DGM said.
The rapid succession of these contrasting events reflects «growing climate variability» and underscores the importance of anticipating extreme weather in order to protect populations and reduce socio-economic impacts.
In its report, the WMO warns that Africa remains particularly vulnerable, noting that «only 40% of countries have multi-hazard early warning systems».
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic, however, thanks to «improved collaboration between meteorological services, disaster management agencies and local authorities, as well as advances in climate services».
