Morocco Weather Alert: Torrential Rain, Snow and Historic Flooding

The General Directorate of Meteorology raised its alert level to the highest possible tier this Monday for several provinces in the northwest of the Kingdom. Exceptional accumulations ranging from 100 to 150 millimeters are expected on Wednesday 4 February in the regions of Tanger, Tétouan, Larache and Chefchaouen. While awaiting this peak in precipitation, an orange alert remains active for the next 24 hours in Al Hoceïma, Rabat and Kénitra, where rainfall totals could reach 80 millimeters in some areas.

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The spell of bad weather is not limited to rainfall alone. The national weather service has also warned of heavy snowfall from altitudes of 1 500 meters, particularly in the Middle and High Atlas, where the snow cover could reach 60 centimeters in depth. This phenomenon is accompanied by violent wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour and a sharp drop in temperatures. An orange alert for intense cold has been issued for the southeast of the country, with minimum temperatures falling below - 6 degrees.

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The most critical situation is currently unfolding in the town of Ksar El Kébir, hit by a major flood of the Loukkos River. The Royal Armed Forces (FAR) have been deployed in the field since Thursday to coordinate rescue operations and the evacuation of affected residents. According to local sources, more than 20 000 people have had to leave their homes as water levels rose. Due to the scale of the flooding and to facilitate the work of rescue teams, the authorities have suspended classes in all schools in the area until 7 February.