New heatwave hits Morocco, temperatures to reach 47°C until Thursday

Morocco is bracing for a new heatwave that began Monday and is expected to last until Thursday, July 23. The General Directorate of Meteorology has issued an orange-level alert, warning of a significant rise in temperatures across several provinces.

Temperatures are forecast to reach between 44 and 47 degrees Celsius in areas including Assa-Zag, Smara, Tata, and Zagora from Monday to Wednesday. Simultaneously, provinces such as Essaouira, Driouch, Nador, and Berkane will experience temperatures ranging from 35 to 40 degrees Celsius during the same period.

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The Kingdom will remain under the influence of a stable summer weather pattern, resulting from the interaction of the Saharan thermal low with the extension of the subtropical high over North Africa, coinciding with the continued influence of the Azores high on the Atlantic coasts.

From Tuesday to Thursday, temperatures between 40 and 44 degrees Celsius are expected in Sidi Kacem, Khouribga, Settat, Kelaat Sraghna, Marrakech, Rehamna, Jerada, Taourirt, Khémisset, Youssoufia, Beni Mellal, Fqih Ben Salah, Khénifra, Boulemane, Guercif, Oujda-Angad, Taounate, Taza, Ouezzane, Taroudant, and Tinghir.

Houssain Youabed, head of communications at the Directorate, explained that the country remains under the influence of a stable summer weather pattern. This is due to the interaction of a Saharan thermal low with the subtropical high-pressure system over North Africa, combined with the Azores high affecting the Atlantic coast. This pattern facilitates the flow of hot, dry "Chergui" winds into inland areas.

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This weather situation contributes to the continued flow of hot and dry "Chergui" winds towards the interior regions, which will maintain hot to very hot conditions, especially north of the Eastern Region, the Moulouya Valley, Saïs, the plains west of the Atlas, the Tadla plains, Souss, Chichaoua, and the southeastern regions.

Consequently, inland temperatures will remain hot to very hot, particularly in northern regions, the Moulouya Valley, Saïs, western Atlas plains, Tadla plains, Souss, Chichaoua, and the southeast, with highs between 40 and 47 degrees Celsius – 5 to 12 degrees above seasonal averages. Coastal areas, however, will experience cooler conditions due to maritime air masses, with low clouds and fog possible during the night and morning.

Localized thunderstorms may occur in the High and Middle Atlas mountains and their western foothills due to daytime heating and limited moisture. Moderate to strong winds are anticipated in eastern and southeastern regions, central plains, and southern provinces, potentially causing dust and sand storms that could affect visibility.

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Daytime heating, along with the availability of a limited amount of moisture and instability in the upper atmosphere, will contribute to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds over the High and Middle Atlas mountains and their western foothills, which may be accompanied by localized thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening.