Rabat – Morocco’s spring 2026 unfolded as a sequence of abrupt and contrasting weather events, the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) has assessed, describing the season as shaped by “rapid shifts between cold, snow and heat within a very short time frame.”
The agency’s seasonal bulletin recorded a national temperature anomaly of +0.29°C compared with the 1991-2020 average, placing the season as the 12th warmest spring since 1981. It remained far less intense than recent years, notably 2023 (+2.05°C) and 2024 (+1.18°C).
Rainfall levels stayed close to seasonal expectations, with a national deficit of -9.6%. The DGM described this as “relatively close to normal conditions,” especially when compared with the severe shortfalls of previous springs, including -57.6% in 2023.
Despite the moderate seasonal averages, Morocco experienced sharp thermal contrasts that defined the spring.
Between March 3 and 13, a late cold spell affected large parts of the country. Minimum temperatures dropped well below seasonal norms, reaching -5.2°C in Midelt, 1.9°C in Khouribga, and 2.0°C in Taza. The DGM classified March 2026 among the colder recent months, ranking it as the “10th coldest March since 1981.”
A second disturbance followed in mid-May, with temperatures falling again and snowfall returning to the High and Middle Atlas between May 14 and 20, an unusual occurrence at that stage of the year. Conditions then shifted sharply.
An early heatwave spread across much of the country between May 20 and 27, pushing temperatures above 43°C in several cities. Sidi Slimane reached 43.6°C, Taroudant 43.7°C, and Es-Smara 43.8°C. On May 25, Safi recorded 42.5°C, breaking its previous May record of 40.5°C set in 2001.
The DGM said this pattern reflects a growing climatic volatility. “These successive extremes underline the importance of continuous meteorological monitoring and early warning systems,” the weather authority explained.
The agency added that in a context of rising variability, “anticipation of extreme events remains essential to protect populations and support decision-making across socio-economic sectors.”
