Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Traffic in Morocco’s Rif Mountains

Barriers and signs have been installed by the local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie to prohibit traffic on this road section, particularly between the centers of Issaguen and Bab Berred.

The General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) had announced snowfall, heavy rains sometimes stormy accompanied locally by hail (30 to 150 mm), as well as strong gusts of wind with local dust rises (70 to 95 km/h) between Saturday and Monday in several regions of the kingdom.

The prefectures and provinces of Ifrane, Azilal, Beni Mellal and Midelt will be hit by snowfall on heights exceeding 500 meters (40 to 70 cm) between Saturday at noon and Monday at 1 pm, the DGM said in a red alert bulletin.

The prefectures and provinces of Guercif, Taza, Boulemane, Sefrou, Al Hoceïma, Chefchaouen, Khénifra, Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Chichaoua and Taroudant are subject to an orange alert, which should experience snowfall on heights exceeding 1,500 meters (20 to 40 cm) between Saturday at noon and Monday at 1 pm.

Heavy rains, sometimes stormy, ranging from 80 to 150 mm, accompanied locally by hail, were expected in Tangier-Assilah, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Ouezzane, Larache and Al Hoceïma.