Sweltering heat is set to hit several Moroccan regions from Saturday to Monday, with temperature soaring to 32 and even 41°C in some parts of the country, according to an orange alert issued by the Meteorological Agency (DGM).
Provinces bracing for the heatwave (36 to 41°C) are Inezgane-Ait Melloul, Agadir-Ida-Ou Tanane, Tiznit, Taroudant, Chtouka-Ait Baha, Guelmim, Sidi Ifni, Tan-Tan, Assa-Zag, Boujdour, Laayoune, Es-Semara, Tarfaya, Aousserd and Oued Ed-Dahab.
Hot weather is also expected over the weekend in Fquih Ben Salah, Beni Mellal, Settat, El Jadida, Sidi Bennour, Marrakech, Essaouira, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Chichaoua, Azilal, Al-Haouz, Rehamna, Safi and Youssoufia, which will post high temperatures of 34-38 °C.
Weather will be more clement (32-35°C) on Berrechid, Benslimane, Nouaceur, Casablanca, Mediouna, Mohammedia, Khemisset and Skhirate-Temara.
Scientists believe that extreme heatwaves are a result of climate change and El Nino. They say the year 2024 will have multiple searing heatwaves but no one can predict the where and when.