Morocco is bracing for severe weather going into the beginning of the week, with heavy snowfall, intense rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds set to impact several regions across the country from Sunday to Monday, the Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM) has warned.
Snowfall and blizzard conditions
The DGM has issued an orange-level alert for a snowstorm.
Snow reaching 24 to 40 centimeters was forecast to blanket areas above 1,600 meters in the provinces of Ifrane, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Taza, and Midelt, starting today at 12:30 p.m. and is expected to continue until Monday at 11 p.m.
An additional 5 to 10 cm of snow is expected in the provinces of Guercif, Boulemane, Sefrou, Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, Khenifra, Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Chichaoua, and Taroudant during the same period.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms
Heavy rain, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms and hail, was forecast to have already started in several regions, and will last until Monday at 6 p.m.
Rainfall is expected to range from 60 to 90 millimeters in the provinces of Tangier-Assilah, Fahs-Anjran, M’diq-Fnideq, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Taounate, Taza, Ouezzane, Larache, and Al Hoceima.
On Monday, between midnight and 3 p.m., 30 to 50 mm of rain is forecast for Ifrane, Beni Mellal, Azilal, and Khenifra.
The provinces of Kenitra, Safi, El Jadida, Khemisset, Khouribga, Rabat, Sale, Skhirate-Temara, Mediouna, Casablanca, Berrechid, Benslimane, Nouaceur, Mohammedia, and Sidi Bennour are forecast to have rain of 20 to 30 mm last until 11 p.m. today.
Strong winds
In addition to the rain and snow, strong wind gusts ranging from 70 to 85 kilometers per hour are predicted across several provinces.
Affected areas include Chefchaouen, Al Hoceima, Fahs-Anjra, Tanger-Assilah, Tetouan, M’diq-Fnideq, Ifrane, Boulemane, El Hajeb, Taza, Meknes, Fez, Kenitra, Khemisset, Rabat, Skhirate-Temara, Sale, Benslimane, Mediouna, Sidi Bennour, Sefrou, El Jadida, Berrechid, Mohammedia, Nouaceur, Casablanca, Safi, Midelt, and Ouarzazate. These winds are forecast to have already begun today and will last until 11 p.m.
Similar gusts will continue on Monday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., in Chefchaouen, Al Hoceima, Tetouan, Boulemane, Midelt, and Figuig.
