• search
  • US
    English

Moroccan Weather

There is a considerable variation in climate across northern and southern Morocco, due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Sahara Desert to the south and southeast. Between October and May, the majority of Morocco's precipitation occurs. In addition to extratropical weather systems from Europe and the Atlantic Ocean bringing cold air and clouds, the gradient of rainfall from north to south is decreased due to the Atlas Mountains. The arid and semi-arid southern and southeastern regions of the country experience high temperatures year-round, while the northern mountainous areas receive precipitation and snow from November to April.

The Mediterranean climate, which characterizes much of Morocco, particularly along the coast, has mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. November to March is the rainy season, during which 1,200 mm of rain typically falls. The drier south receives about 100 mm of rain annually. 

The coast experiences temperatures ranging from 18°C to 28°C (64.4°F to 82.4) in the summer, while interior mountain areas experience temperatures ranging from 8°C to 17°C (46.4°F to 62.6°F) In the winter, temperatures can drop below 0°C in the interior mountain areas, whereas those along the coast range from 8°C to 17°C (46.4°F to 62.6°F). The mean annual temperature in Morocco is 17.5°C ( 63.5°F), with monthly temperatures ranging from 9.4°C (48.92°F) (December, January) to 26°C ( 78.8°F) (July, August). The mean annual precipitation is 318.8 mm, with the highest precipitation occurring from October to April while extremely low precipitation occurs from June to August.

 

What to pack

In winter: On the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, bring spring/autumn attire, a raincoat or umbrella; for the imperial cities, a warm hat may be required for the evening; for mountain regions, pack warm clothing, including down jackets and gloves; for the desert, wear light clothing, but also bring a sweater, a wind-resistant scarf, and a warm jacket.

In summer: On the Mediterranean coast, bring light clothing and a sweatshirt for the evening; on the Atlantic coast, especially in Agadir and Essaouira, a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, a light jacket, and a scarf are recommended. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, long shirts and pants, sunglasses (even if they are graduated rather than contact lenses), desert turbans, and sweatshirts for the evening are recommended for deserts and mountainous areas; a sleeping bag for outdoor overnight stays; hiking shoes or sandals. Women should eschew shorts and miniskirts, especially in rural and non-tourist areas.

  • experts
  • thumns
  • trip
  • ask