Rabat – Morocco’s heatwave season has extended well beyond summer, with the country recording its highest average temperatures for the first 20 days of September since 1981, according to the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM).
The figures point to an unusually hot start to autumn after a summer that already ranked among Morocco’s warmest on record. The DGM recorded two major heat episodes in September, from September 3 to 9 and from September 12 to 15.
The first episode pushed temperatures past previous September records in several parts of the country.
Sidi Slimane recorded 47.1°C, breaking the previous September record of 45.8°C set in 1988. Kenitra reached 45.1°C, above its previous record of 44.6°C from 2006.
Sale also set a new September record at 44.3°C, compared with the previous high of 43.6°C recorded in 2021. In Laayoune, temperatures climbed to 45.8°C, surpassing the previous September record of 45°C set in 2005.
Summer heat sets the stage
The September figures follow an exceptionally warm summer across Morocco.
The country’s average temperature for summer 2026 stood 1.07°C above the 1991-2020 reference average, placing the season eighth among Morocco’s hottest summers since 1981, according to the DGM.
The heat affected all three summer months. June recorded a temperature anomaly of +0.97°C, while July reached +1.37°C and August stood at +0.89°C above the reference average.
Despite the intense heat this year, summer 2023 remains the hottest on record, with a +1.92°C temperature anomaly.
Some cities experienced particularly sharp departures from their usual summer temperatures. Al Hoceima recorded an anomaly of +2.33°C, followed by Oujda at +2.22°C and Tetouan at +1.42°C.
July brought especially high temperatures to several coastal cities. Casablanca recorded a +2.15°C anomaly, while Kenitra and El Jadida registered anomalies of +1.61°C and +1.69°C, respectively.
Temperatures exceed 48°C
Morocco also faced two major heatwaves during the summer.
The first, from June 29 to July 9, pushed temperatures to 47°C in Smara and Sidi Slimane, while Taroudant reached 45.5°C.
A second episode from July 30 to August 6 brought even more intense heat. Taroudant reached 48.6°C, followed closely by Smara at 48.4°C. Guelmim recorded 46.4°C, while temperatures in Tiznit climbed to 43.5°C.
The DGM counted 19 days of extreme heat across Morocco during summer 2026. The figure remains below the 27 extreme-heat days recorded in 2023, although the latest September records show that exceptionally high temperatures have persisted beyond the traditional summer period.
The meteorological agency has urged the public to keep track of official weather forecasts and alerts, particularly during periods of extreme heat, to reduce exposure to the risks associated with severe weather conditions.
