Heatwave in Morocco: 37°C, never seen before in February!

The thermometer climbed to 36.6°C in Tan-Tan, in the south of the country, thus breaking the previous record of 36.3°C set in 1960 in Nouaceur.

This heatwave has hit the entire territory, with values ​​largely above seasonal norms. Cities like Essaouira (36.4°C), Agadir (36°C), Casablanca (34.8°C) and Rabat (33.9°C) have experienced temperatures worthy of summer in the middle of winter.

Keraunos, a French observatory specialized in extreme weather phenomena, has described this heatwave as "exceptional".

This intense heat is part of a context of persistent drought in Morocco. The country has recorded a 44% drop in rainfall since the beginning of January compared to the same period in 2023. At the same time, average temperatures have increased by 1.8 degrees compared to the 1981-2010 period.

Faced with the risk of water shortages, the Moroccan authorities have taken several restrictive measures in recent weeks, including:

• Limiting the opening of hammams
• Closing car washes in several cities
• Banning the watering of golf courses and gardens with drinking water