Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) has issued an orange-level weather alert warning of thunderstorms, hail, and strong wind gusts across several provinces on Friday.
The storms are expected to bring between 20 and 30 millimeters of rain to 26 provinces, according to an updated weather warning from the DGM. The forecast places the affected areas under an orange vigilance level, indicating potentially dangerous weather conditions.
The weather service expects the storms from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday.
The alert covers Ifrane, Khenifra, Al Haouz, Chichaoua, Kelaat Sraghna, Tata, Ouarzazate, Taroudant, Tinghir, Zagora, Khouribga, Settat, Essaouira, Marrakech, Rehamna, Youssoufia, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Fquih Ben Salah, Errachidia, Midelt, Boulemane, Guercif, Figuig, and Taourirt.
The warning comes after an exceptionally hot September. Morocco recorded its hottest September since 1981, with average temperatures reaching 2.75°C above the 1991-2020 reference average. Several cities also recorded new September temperature records, including Sidi Slimane, which reached 47.1°C on September 3.
The country also experienced a shift toward more unsettled weather in late September. A low-pressure system moving in from the western Mediterranean brought rain and localized thunderstorms to parts of northern and central Morocco on September 28, while temperatures dropped closer to seasonal averages after running 5°C to 8°C above normal in some areas.
