The Moroccan General Directorate of Meteorology announced on Sunday that temperatures recorded in several cities over recent days have occasionally exceeded seasonal averages by as much as 20 degrees Celsius, particularly along the Atlantic coast, amid a severe heatwave.
The meteorological agency stated that the country experienced a “Sharqi” heatwave on Friday and Saturday, characterized by its intensity and geographical spread, noting that many regions recorded high temperatures surpassing the seasonal norms.
Sharqi winds are hot, dry, and very strong winds originating from the east or southeast across Morocco, particularly from the Sahara Desert.
According to the agency, the highest increase was observed in the Atlantic plains and interior plateaus. In the coastal city of Casablanca (west), temperatures soared to 39.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 38.6 degrees set in June 2011.
In the city of Larache, also located on the Atlantic coast and approximately 250 kilometers north of Casablanca, temperatures reached 43.8 degrees on Saturday, exceeding the previous monthly record of 42.9 degrees registered in June 2017.
Furthermore, in the city of Ben Guerir (central Morocco), a new high of 46.4 degrees was recorded on Saturday, compared to 45.3 degrees in 2023.
Overall, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees in more than 17 regions, primarily along the Atlantic coast, as reported by the meteorological agency.
The agency indicated that coastal cities like Essaouira recorded temperatures higher than their usual averages by 10 to 20 degrees for June.
Internal cities such as Marrakech, Fes, Meknes, and Beni Mellal experienced temperature increases ranging from 8 to 15 degrees above seasonal norms, while even Tangier in the far north registered 8 degrees above the average.
Weather forecasts for the coming days suggest that high temperatures will persist in the interior regions of the country due to a desert low-pressure system.
These elevated temperatures are part of a broader heatwave affecting southern Europe, notably France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.