Rain in the desert – Algeria particularly affected

For several days now, a low-pressure system over North Africa has been bringing unusually heavy rain. In northern Algeria and Morocco, rainfall reached 50 to 100 mm per square metre in some areas, and even more in certain regions.

Even in the Sahara, high rainfall levels were recorded. In some places, it rained as much in one day as it normally does in two months.

By Friday, a further 20 to 50 mm, and in some cases even up to 100 mm, could accumulate. There is a risk of flash floods and flooded depressions, as the desert soil can hardly absorb any water. The weather will not calm down until the weekend.

The rare rain creates new rivers and small lakes, as shown in images from Erg Chegaga. This is Morocco's largest sand desert on the border with Algeria.