Morocco Braces for Extreme Heat Wave as Temperatures Near 50°C (122°F)

A scorching weekend in Morocco. A heat wave will hit the regions of Fès (record of 46.4°C likely to be broken) and even Marrakech (record of 49.6°C likely to be approached), warns AEMET, the Spanish meteorological institute, in a new alert bulletin, stating that the 50°C mark could be locally exceeded in the kingdom and in Algeria.

This "heat dome" is also expected in Spain, with temperatures of 42, 43 or even 44°C in Andalusia but also a good part of Spain. The hottest temperatures are expected on Sunday but also on Monday, warns AEMET. A new heat record (previously set at 46.6°C on July 23, 1995) could be recorded in the city of Seville. The Murcia region will also be affected by this heat wave, with temperatures above 44°C on Monday, July 12.

This heat wave is explained by the rise of a mass of hot air from the Sahara in the south of Spain. It is a "blocking high" that presses down on the ground and compresses the air, which heats it up even more, it is explained.