Summer heat in Morocco: New February record reaches over 36°C

Summer-like heat has already arrived in Morocco. Temperatures have reached over 36°C in recent days, setting a new monthly record.

On Wednesday 14th February, the peak of the recent heat, temperatures rose well above 30°C widely across the country, regionally even reaching over 36°C.

To reach these kinds of values in Morocco so early in the year is extremely unusual. Such temperatures normally only occur on very warm spring and summer days.

The temperature in mid-February however, is normally around 20°C, making it 15°C above normal for the time of year. The only exception being the Atlas Mountains, that are often colder.

In the west of the country, Agadir reported a staggering temperature of 36°C, Essaouira reached a maximum temperature of 36.4°C and Tan-Tan was the highest temperature of 36.6°C.

This broke the previous monthly record for February from 1960, which was previously held at 36.0°C in Nouasseur.

There is also potential for the highest winter temperature to be broken, as December and January tend to be colder than February, though this has not yet been confirmed.

It often can get hot in Morocco due to the supply of very dry air from the desert. In close proximity to the Atlas Mountains, the foehn effect also played a role in enhancing the heat.

As the south-easterly wind swept over the inland mountains, it had to descend rapidly on the northwest side of the mountains. As the air sinks down the mountains, it loses moisture and then rapidly warms.

In August 2023, it reached 50.4°C in Agadir, breaking the national record. It was the first time the temperature in Morocco exceeded 50°C. Concerns about increasing desertification in the country are high; it will soon be too hot and too dry for some crops to survive.