In recent days, Morocco has witnessed a sudden cold wave that affected various regions of the country to varying degrees, as temperatures in some areas dropped below zero, raising questions about the reasons for this extreme cold and whether it is a prelude to a prolonged cold wave.
The reasons behind the cold wave
Al-Hussein Youabed, head of the communication department at the General Directorate of Meteorology, explained that this phenomenon is related to the transitional period between autumn and winter, when the probability of polar air masses coming from northern Europe towards the south increases. Yoabed pointed out that “the movements of cold air currents from northern Europe towards Morocco come as a result of the deviation of the jet stream towards the south, which made way for cold air to reach our regions.”
He added that the positioning of the high air over Morocco for several weeks had prevented the arrival of air disturbances, but the weather changes, which began today, Wednesday, December 11, were represented by the formation of an air low in northern Morocco, which stimulated the movement of cold air masses towards the country, causing a sharp drop in degrees. Heat and rain are expected on Thursday in northern Morocco.
Temperature details
Yoabed revealed that minimum temperatures will range between:
-6 to 0 degrees Celsius in the Atlas Highlands.
-1 to 4 degrees Celsius in the countryside, the western Atlas plains, the phosphate and diamond plateaus, and the eastern high plateaus.
3 to 9 degrees Celsius in the northern and central plains.
6 to 13 degrees Celsius in the southern regions.
Expectations for the coming days
Yoabed confirmed that temperatures will remain low during the night and morning throughout this week, with cold weather and frost in the regions of the Rif, the Atlas, the southeast, and the high plateaus.
He pointed out that the main reason people are feeling the current extreme cold is the sudden transition from warm weather, resulting from exceptional southern winds during the past weeks, to cold air masses coming from northern Europe.
Tips and forecasts
These cold weather are expected to continue, so residents are advised to be careful and wear heavy clothing, especially in areas experiencing a severe cold wave. The weather is also expected to gradually improve as the end of the week approaches.
