Morocco Breaks Heat Records in 2020 Amid Widespread Rainfall Deficit

The heat reached a peak in 2020 in Morocco. In February of last year, Fez broke the record for maximum temperature with 23.78°C before repeating it in July with 40.4°C. In Mohammedia, a new record for the monthly minimum temperature of 22.28°C was recorded in February.

As for the annual rainfall, it recorded a deficit throughout the kingdom, exceeding 50% north of Marrakech and in the Souss-Massa regions and the Anti-Atlas mountains, while rain was scarce in the Southern Provinces, to the point where 2020 was ranked among the four driest years since 1981.

With a rather hot year, the national cereal production experienced a decrease of -39% compared to the 2018-2019 season and -57% compared to an average year since 2008. The General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) highlights several extreme weather events that have caused damage, including summer heat waves, heavy thunderstorms, strong winds with gusts of around 100 km/h, and hail falls as was the case on June 6, 2020, damaging 900 hectares of crops in the Saïss and Middle Atlas regions.