Heatwave Leaves Moroccan Cities Sweltering in Record-Breaking Temperatures

• Morocco’s latest heatwave has caused record-breaking temperatures.
• Temperatures in Casablanca hit 39.5C, surpassing prior records.
• Lee than 17 regions have exceeded 40C amid this oppressive heat.
• Essaouira and other coastal cities face significant temperature anomalies.
• Forecasts indicate ongoing heat due to a Saharan thermal depression.

Severe Heat Dominates Moroccan Weather Patterns

Heatwave conditions have unleashed sweltering temperatures across Morocco, leading to unprecedented monthly temperature records. According to the Moroccan national meteorological office, the June heatwave has seen temperatures exceed normal seasonal averages by as much as 20 degrees Celsius in many areas. Specifically, between June 27 and June 28, a particularly intense ‘chegui’ heatwave gripped the nation, stretching its influence over a wide geographical area.

Historical Records Broken Amidst Rising Temperatures

The marine city of Casablanca recorded a staggering temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous June record of 38.6 degrees Celsius, first set back in 2011. Meanwhile, Larache, located 250 kilometers up the coast, recorded a staggering temperature peak of 43.8 degrees Celsius, narrowly topping the previous record set in June 2017. In central Morocco, Ben Guerir reached extreme heat levels at 46.4 degrees Celsius, exceeding the two-year-old record by 1.1 degrees Celsius.

Future Projections Show Heated Conditions Persisting

In total, the meteorological office indicated that over 17 regions in Morocco faced temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Coastal cities have been particularly hard hit, with cities such as Essaouira experiencing temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above their normal averages for June. The interior cities, including Marrakesh, Fez, Meknes, and Beni Mellal, registered temperatures between 8 to 15 degrees above the norm, with Tangier at the far end of that spectrum. Looking ahead, forecasts suggest that this heat wave will persist due to a Saharan thermal depression—a phenomenon characterized by an intense dome of heat that has settled over the desert.

In summary, Morocco is experiencing a severe heatwave, with records shattered across the country. Coastal cities are suffering immense heat, revealing a worrying trend of rising temperatures. The ongoing Saharan thermal depression hints that this intense heat may linger for some time, posing challenges for the affected regions.