Morocco has been experiencing an unusual heat wave in recent days in a number of regions, particularly in the center and south, during the current week. Temperatures there reach forty degrees Celsius, which is fortuitous at this time of year, which coincides with the start of the spring season, generally characterized by moderate temperatures.
These early spring heat waves are causing serious concern among the farming community in Morocco, especially with the scarcity of rains throughout March 2023. In addition, exposure to the harsh sun can also cause health problems. (sunburn…) in particular, in this sacred month of fasting.
The latest “orange vigilance level” alert bulletin issued by the General Directorate of Meteorology predicted high temperatures between 36 and 38 degrees in Fkih Bensalah, Youssoufia, Marrakech, Agadir Ida Ou Tanan, Chtouka-Ait Baha, Inezgane -Ait Melloul, Tan-Tan, Tarfaya, and Chichaoua. While they would oscillate between 38 and 41 degrees in Aousserd, Tata, Assa-Zag, Smara, Taroudant, Laayoune, Boujdour and Oued Ed-Dahab during the week.
As for this outfit of the sky seen by a specialist Houcine Youaabed, in this casecommunications manager at the National Meteorological Directorate told MoroccoLatestNews that “ The meteorological situation in Morocco is experiencing a significant rise in temperatures during these days, especially in the south and center of the country. These exceed the seasonal average by 5 to 10 degrees, especially since we are still in early spring.“.
Youaabed pointed out that, “thehe maximum temperatures recorded on Wednesday (29 March) reached 38.9 degrees in Agadir, 37.8 degrees in Taroudant, 40.2 degrees in Smara and 37.2 degrees in Guelmim”noting that “they largely exceeded the monthly record which was recorded at the same period last year“. The rise in temperatures during this period, according to meteorological interpretations, is due toto the concentration of the Assyrian anticyclone in the northwest of the country and to the activity of the desert depression in the south“. This materialized by the formation of a south-easterly current which “led to the rise of hot and dry air masses from the Sahara Desert which thus contributed to the increase in temperatures in most parts of the country, in particular the southern and central regions“.
As for the weather forecast,temperatures should experience a gradual decline from the first days of April, with the continuation of relatively warm weather on each of the plains extending west of the Atlas, in the southern regions as well as in the Souss region“, according to Youaabed.
The manager said that “temperatures will fluctuate between 19 and 26 degrees at the end of the week on the high plateaus of the Atlas, the plains and near the Atlantic coasts, and between 24 and 32 degrees in the east of the country. They should be between 29 and 35 degrees in the interior plains of the north of the country and the phosphate hills where they will be 30 and 37 degrees in Al-Rahamna, Tensift, Abda, Chiadma and the south-east of the country, where the weather will be hot. Temperatures of 36 to 41 degrees are expected in the interior regions of Souss and the south of the country”.
With regard to the areas affected by the heat wave and their inhabitants, our interlocutor recommends beingbe careful not to expose yourself to direct sunlight, especially during the midday period, and to favor the shade for as long as possible. He indicated that a “special care” should be reserved for children and the elderly, while making sure to drink water and liquids in quantity during the period between iftar and shour”. Youaabed concluded that “the warm weather will continue in general in the south of the country, while temperatures will drop in the north and the center of the kingdom from the beginning of next week“.