A recent deluge of rainfall in the Sahara desert has brought a rare sight of blue lagoons amid the palm trees and sand dunes, providing much-needed nourishment to some of the most drought-stricken regions in Morocco. The southeastern desert, known for its extreme aridity, experienced two days of rainfall in September that surpassed yearly averages in several areas, including Tata and Tagounite.
In Tagounite, a village located south of the capital Rabat, over 100 mm of rain was recorded in just 24 hours, marking a significant event that hadn't been witnessed in decades. The storms not only replenished the parched lands but also left a picturesque scene of water flowing through the Saharan sands, captivating both residents and tourists alike.
The General Directorate of Meteorology in Morocco described the rainfall as an extratropical storm, hinting at potential changes in the region's weather patterns in the coming months and years. The increased moisture in the air could lead to more evaporation and subsequent storm formation, offering hope for a shift from the prolonged drought conditions that have plagued the country for the past six years.
While the rainfall is expected to help replenish groundwater aquifers and refill dammed reservoirs at record rates, the extent of its impact on alleviating the long-standing drought remains uncertain. The abundance of water, while a welcome sight, also brought challenges, with reports of casualties in Morocco and Algeria, damaged harvests, and the need for emergency relief funds in affected areas.
Notably, NASA satellites captured the remarkable sight of water rushing into Lake Iriqui, a once-dry lakebed between Zagora and Tata that had been devoid of water for half a century. The event serves as a reminder of the unpredictable yet awe-inspiring forces of nature that can transform even the harshest landscapes into scenes of abundance and vitality.
