A rare rainfall has turned parts of the Sahara Desert into picturesque blue lagoons, a phenomenon unseen for decades.
Water pooled around palm trees and sand dunes in southeastern Morocco, a region known as one of the driest places on Earth, following an extratropical storm that brought more rain in two days than the area typically receives in an entire year, according to reports from the Associated Press on Wednesday.
Meteorologists recorded the heaviest rainfalls in the region’s remote desert landscapes, with Tagounite, a village located about 450 kilometers south of the capital Rabat, seeing over 100 millimeters of rain in just 24 hours.
For locals, this unprecedented deluge produced surreal images, with water flooding vast expanses of desert sands and even filling Lake Iriqui—a dry lakebed that had been without water for 50 years.
Houssine Youabeb of Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology commented on the magnitude of the storm, stating, “It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve had this much rain in such a short space of time.”
The flooding, although stunning to witness, also highlights concerns about changing weather patterns in the region.
According to meteorologists, the extratropical storm responsible for this downpour may be part of a broader shift that could lead to more frequent and intense storms in the future.
Southeastern Morocco has been suffering through six years of drought, causing severe water shortages across the region.
The downpour, which affected several areas, including Tata, exceeded yearly rainfall averages and brought some much-needed relief.
Experts believe the storm may help replenish groundwater supplies and refill critical reservoirs, providing a temporary respite from the prolonged drought conditions.
However, the rain also caused extensive damage and loss of life. The Moroccan government reported that over 20 people were killed in flooding-related incidents across Morocco and neighboring Algeria.
In some cases, tourists and locals navigated the flooded desert landscapes in 4×4 vehicles, unaware of the dangers posed by the rapidly rising waters.
In agricultural regions, farmers saw their crops devastated by the deluge, further compounding the economic strain already caused by the drought.
The Moroccan government has announced the release of emergency aid to assist those affected by the flooding, especially in rural areas where infrastructure damage is significant.
Recovery efforts are expected to focus on supporting displaced residents, repairing damaged homes, and restoring livelihoods for farmers who have lost their crops.
While the rains bring temporary relief to Morocco’s water crisis, they also raise concerns about the long-term impact of climate change on the region.
As extreme weather events become more common, there are fears that these rare storms could contribute to even greater challenges for the already vulnerable desert communities.
For now, however, southeastern Morocco is experiencing a rare and breathtaking sight—the Sahara Desert temporarily transformed into a land of blue lagoons, surrounded by the harsh beauty of its golden sand dunes.
