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Morocco Braces for Severe Weather: Hail, High Winds, and Dust Storms Approach

Monday 25 March 2024 - 10:15

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As sunlight blankets the Moroccan terrain, a foreboding forecast emerges, signaling the imminent arrival of a tumultuous weather system poised to wreak havoc across multiple cities. The General Directorate of Meteorology issues a stern warning, urging residents to prepare for a potent combination of thunderstorms, hailstorms, and powerful winds, promising a whirlwind of chaos.

The northern regions of Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, Ouezzane, and Nador stand directly in the path of this approaching onslaught, with locally heavy thunderstorms looming ominously. Skies are expected to unleash a deluge of hail, ranging from 25 to a staggering 40 millimeters per hour, between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m., testing the resilience of these communities.

Beyond precipitation, the fury of nature extends to regions like Fahs-Anjra, Tangier-Assilah, Fez, and Boulemane, where residents brace for powerful wind gusts ranging from 75 to a blistering 90 kilometers per hour. This onslaught is anticipated to whip up a torrent of dust, reducing visibility and posing significant challenges to residents from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Early signs of the impending tempest have already surfaced, with online images depicting a haunting scene of darkness enveloping the cities of Oujda and Berkane, swallowed by relentless advancing dust storms. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Moroccan Motorway Company issues a timely warning to drivers in several provinces, urging caution and advising them to assess weather conditions before embarking on journeys.

This looming threat is not unprecedented, as Morocco has weathered nature's fury before. Just last month, tragedy struck Tangier when a 29-year-old woman lost her life in a devastating accident caused by the collapse of a residential building's facade, underscoring the destructive potential of strong winds.

As the nation braces for the impending tempest, a collective resolve emerges a determination to weather the storm and emerge victorious in the face of nature's unrelenting force. In the coming hours, the resilience of the Moroccan spirit will be tested, but with preparedness and unity, they stand ready to confront this challenge head-on, emerging stronger and more resolute in the aftermath.