Rabat – Morocco has endured its hottest year on record in 2023, with extreme heat waves and severe droughts wreaking havoc on the nation’s agriculture and water resources, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The report, which details the severe climate impacts across North Africa, reveals that Morocco’s temperatures in 2023 surpassed previous records, driven by the intensifying effects of global climate change.
July and August were particularly brutal, with the coastal city of Agadir recording an unprecedented 50.4°C; far exceeding the 1991-2020 average by 1.25°C.
The extreme heat has been compounded by relentless drought. Morocco, along with neighboring Algeria and Tunisia, saw some of the most significant temperature anomalies in the region, combined with annual rainfall levels far below normal.
In some parts of Morocco, the rainfall deficit exceeded 150 millimeters, further exacerbating the strain on the country’s already overburdened water systems.
The nation’s second-largest dam, Al Massira, has seen its water reserves plummet to just 6% of capacity, a stark contrast to the 99% it held in 2013.
The 2022-2023 season’s rainfall was 28% below average, marking the fourth consecutive year of drought, which has led to devastating effects on Morocco’s agricultural sector. Cereal production has taken a particularly heavy hit, falling 30% below typical levels.
The broader economic consequences are equally dire. WMO experts warn that climate-related disasters could cost African nations between 2% and 5% of their GDP annually. Without immediate mitigation, up to 118 million Africans could be vulnerable to extreme weather by 2030.
Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, was quoted in the report emphasizing the urgent need for climate action highlighting the need for early warning systems to protect vulnerable populations.
“Africa has recorded a warming trend that has become more rapid than the global average,” she stated. “In 2023, the continent experienced heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts. These extreme events had devastating impacts on communities.”
