After nine days of extreme heat and 47°C highs, Morocco set for cooler weather

The nine-day heatwave that pushed temperatures to 47°C across parts of Morocco is expected to ease over the coming days, although very hot conditions will persist in several inland regions, according to Morocco's General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM).

«The latest forecasts point to a gradual easing of the heatwave, particularly across northern and central Morocco, as cooler Atlantic air moves inland», Houcine Youabeb, head of communications at the DGM, told Yabiladi on Friday. The change will bring a progressive drop in temperatures across those regions.

The relief, however, will not be felt everywhere. Relatively hot to very hot conditions are expected to continue in the southeast, the Oriental region, the Moulouya Valley and the inland southern provinces, particularly on Friday. Maximum temperatures are forecast to reach 41°C to 46°C in the southeast and the southern provinces, 36°C to 40°C in the Oriental region, the southeastern slopes of the Atlas Mountains and the Moulouya Valley, 31°C to 36°C across much of the rest of the country, while coastal areas and the Atlas Mountains should remain milder, with highs of 25°C to 30°C.

5°C and 13°C above seasonal averages

From Tuesday onward, unstable weather is expected to develop over the Atlas Mountains, potentially bringing localized thunderstorms, alongside a slight rise in temperatures across much of the country.

The easing comes after a heatwave that lasted more than nine days and affected large parts of the country. The episode was driven by the northward extension of the Saharan thermal low and the influx of hot, dry air from the Sahara, known locally as Chergui, Youabeb explained.

Most weather stations recorded temperatures between 5°C and 13°C above seasonal averages, with highs exceeding 40°C in more than 14 cities at the beginning of the week. The heat affected large parts of the country, including the inland plains, the Saïss region and the southern provinces, while Smara recorded the highest temperature nationwide at 47°C.

Despite the exceptional heat, no city has broken its July temperature record so far, according to the meteorologist.