Morocco: Dams are full in the North... but drought still looms in the South

This is a real breath of fresh air for agriculture and drinking water supply. Thanks to sustained precipitation since late December, the national dams are now storing more than 7.52 billion cubic meters. The comparison with the previous year is spectacular: the volume has jumped by 57.3% compared to January 2025, a gain of more than 2.7 billion m³ in one year.

This positive momentum should continue, as the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) is announcing more snow and cold weather until Thursday in several provinces.

The water map shows a clear North-South divide, although the improvement is general. The Bouregreg basin, vital for the Rabat-Casablanca axis, is in top form with a filling rate of 93.6%. Its main dam, Sidi Med Ben Abdellah, is almost full (99%).

In the North, the Loukkos (62.6%) and Sebou (53.3%) basins are playing their role as the country’s water towers. Several structures, such as Oued El Makhazine, Chefchaouen or Bouhouda, are 100% full.

Another good news: the Tensift basin (Marrakech region) is showing a clear improvement with a rate of 69.1%.

However, vigilance remains necessary in certain strategic regions. The Oum Er-Rbia basin, although slightly rising, remains under pressure with only 19% filling. Similarly, Souss-Massa, despite full dams like Aoulouz, shows an overall rate of 48.7%, reminding that the structural tensions are not completely erased.