Heatwave to grip Morocco as temperatures climb to 44°C

A heatwave, high temperatures and strong wind gusts accompanied by sandstorms are expected to affect several Moroccan provinces from Monday through Wednesday, the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) said on Monday.

Temperatures ranging from 38°C to 41°C are forecast in the provinces of Sidi Kacem, Sidi Slimane, Khénifra, Fez, Moulay Yacoub, Taounate, Ouezzane, Khouribga, Sidi Bennour, Essaouira, Khemisset, Meknes, Safi, Agadir-Ida-Ou-Tanane and Inzegane-Ait Melloul from Monday to Wednesday, according to an orange-level weather alert issued by the DGM.

Higher temperatures of 41°C to 44°C are expected over the same period in El Kelâa des Sraghna, Rehamna, Youssoufia, Béni Mellal, Fquih Ben Salah, Oued Ed-Dahab, Boujdour, Assa-Zag, Es-Semara, Tata, Taroudant, Aousserd, Settat, Chichaoua, Marrakech, Zagora and Errachidia.

Meanwhile, temperatures between 39°C and 43°C are forecast on Monday and Tuesday in Chtouka-Ait Baha, Tiznit, Sidi Ifni, Guelmim and Tan-Tan, and on Tuesday in Tarfaya and Laâyoune.

The DGM also warned of strong wind gusts of 75 to 80 km/h, accompanied by sandstorms, in the provinces of Aousserd, Oued Ed-Dahab, Boujdour, Laâyoune and Es-Semara from 10:35 a.m. on Monday until 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday.