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Join on Telegram Rabat – A new heatwave is expected to hit several provinces across Morocco on Friday and Saturday this week.
A new weather alert from the country’s General Directorate of Meteorology (DMN) said on Wednesday that temperatures in the new heat wave will range between 41 and 45 degrees Celsius.
On Friday, the heatwave will concern the provinces of Fez, Moulay Yacoub, Sefrou, Taounate, Meknes, El Hajeb, Fquih Ben Salah, Khenifra, Beni Mellal, Khouribga, Settat, and El Kelaa des Sraghna.
Also set to experience extreme heat on Friday are Rehamna, Marrakech, Zagora, Taroudant, and Tata.
For Saturday, several provinces in the Oriental region as well as southern and central Morocco will experience the new wave of scorching temperatures.
The provinces of Taourirt, Nador, Guercif, Oujda-Angad, Berkane, Driouch will all experience temperatures ranging between 41 and 45 degrees on Saturday, DMN said.
The heat wave will also persist on Saturday in the provinces of Sefrou Taza Khouribga, Beni Mellal, Fquih Ben Salah, Khenifra, Zagora, and Tata.
Prior to this new heatwave, Morocco’s provinces including Rabat-Sale Kenitra experienced moderate weather with temperatures ranging between 29 and 27 degrees compared to the previous weeks in July.
The moderate weather followed weeks of extreme weather, with temperatures reaching 47 degrees in many provinces — particularly in southern and central towns.
DMN’s latest notice comes as the central Moroccan government and local authorities across the country rush to implement measures aimed at mitigating the impact of the most severe drought to have hit the North African kingdom in three decades.
According to recent data from Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture, rainfall reached 199 millimeters by the end of May 2022, representing a decline of 44% compared to the 30-year average (355 millimeters) and a drop of 34% compared to the previous campaign.
This alarming, unprecedented drop in rainfall levels has notably contributed to a significant decrease in Morocco’s cereal production. According to the ministry’s data, the country’s final production of cereals only reached 34 quintals this season, a decrease of 67% compared to the previous season.
