Videos and satellite imagery captured a major sandstorm sweeping across southern Morocco on March 30, with dense dust clouds reducing visibility in areas such as Tan-Tan and Smara. Explaining the phenomenon, Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology points to a sharp pressure gradient as the underlying driver.
Around 1,500 hectares of greenhouses were damaged in Chtouka Ait Baha after winds reaching 110 km/h tore plastic coverings and left crops exposed. Farmers now face plastic shortages and soaring repair costs, while authorities have pledged support measures to help restore production in Morocco’s key export region.