New Weather Alert for Morocco

Following the devastating flash floods that claimed more than thirty lives (see story here), the forecast for the next few days predicts possible further flooding and some high winds in coastal areas. While temperatures have been unseasonably mild in many parts of Morocco, that too could be about to change.

Further heavy rain is now forecast for much of Morocco from Thursday November 27th to Saturday 29th. The worst affected area is forecast to be a triangular region of Safi, Taroudant and Guelmim, but a wider area may be affected. The Moroccan authorities are advising against activities near coastal areas or rivers around Safi, Essaouira, Agadir, Taroudant, Marrakech and the west High Atlas region.

In coastal areas high winds of up to 90km per hour are expected, with strong storms and large waves anticipated. It is possible that rivers may flood and bridges and roads may be closed in mountainous areas.

To find out the latest information ring the Moroccan government service on +212 (0) 537 71 17 17.  If you do not speak Arabic or French, please use a translator as it is unlikely that English is spoken at the service.

As a citizen of Fez, I can’t imagine what would happen to my city if rain struck the old medina. The rain in the southeast reached up to 200 milliliters per second, destroying nearly 250 houses, and that number is still rising. Under such circumstances, the old medina of Fez would be buried.

Writing in the Morocco World News, Amjad Hemidach, who hails from Fez, says that this week's rain found weak resistance in Morocco’s infrastructure. A new bridge partially collapsed in Taliouine, a town about 200 hundred kilometers from Agadir. The huge bridge, which was inaugurated only four months ago, failed its first test, killing twenty-four people. What is worse is that Morocco has about 300 hundred bridges that could potentially fall. In response to this catastrophe, Minister of Transportation and Equipment Aziz Rabbah said in an interview with Kiffach that the Ministry and the government are not able to fix all these problems in a short period of time.

National TV reports showed living people being swept away by the heavy rain, an agonizing and poignant sight for Moroccans. Something could have been done to help the victims if we had had adequate equipment and a solid infrastructure.

In other videos, some citizens had the audacity to expose themselves to tremendous danger by driving through roads that the rain had turned into rivers. They escaped death when it seemed unavoidable. The images evoke the urgent need to re-integrate isolated areas in rural Morocco so they might benefit from the privileges that urban areas monopolize.

As a citizen of Fez, I can’t imagine what would happen to my city if rain struck the old medina. The rain in the southeast reached up to 200 milliliters per second, destroying nearly 250 houses, and that number is still rising. Under such circumstances, the old medina of Fez would be buried.

In the aftermath of the last flood, in which 500 people were rescued, some 40,000 families are still without electricity

THURSDAY'S WEATHER

Casablanca on Thursday can expect showers and a tope of 18 degrees Celsius and a low of 18
Essaouira reaching 19 degrees and a low of 17 There is a 50% chance of rain showers.
Meknes is cool with a low of 10 degrees and a top of 14. Showers are expected.
Thursday in Fez is cooling down with a top of 17 and low of around 11 degrees and further rain developing
Marrakech temperatures range between 13 and 19 and rain is expected. It could be heavy at times.
Tangier 14 - 16 degrees with a 50% chance of showers.

The effects of the extreme weather conditions are not all negative. The dam filling rate increased from 53.8% to 58% after the last rains recorded between 20 and 25 November , according to the Ministry in charge of Water. The water supply now amounts to 9 billion m3, thanks to the exceptional rainfall that fell in recent days.

The contribution of rainfall in different dams amounted to 920 million m3. The occupancy rate at the Mansour Eddahbi dam has increased from 51 to 100%, while that of Hassan Eddakhil from 19 to 44.8%. Moulay Youssef, increased from 33 to 85%. Yacoub Mansour (21 to 89.5%), Aoulouz (41 to 78.2%), Mokhtar Soussi (40 to 92.8%) and Abu El Abass Essebti (75 to 100%).


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