NASA Satellite Captures Rare Snowfall Across Morocco's Landscape

Monday 06 January 2025 - 10:50

Morocco's mountainous regions have received substantial snowfall, a phenomenon recently documented through NASA's advanced satellite imagery. The space agency shared a striking animation showcasing snow-covered areas across the country, utilizing false-color corrected reflectance technology known as Banda M11-12-I1.

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite captured these remarkable images between December and January 2, with snow appearing in cyan hues. According to NASA, the snowfall resulted from cold air masses moving south from Northern Europe, leading to accumulations of 35-40 centimeters in mountainous areas.

The winter weather system has prompted Morocco's weather office to issue alerts for several provinces. From Sunday to Monday, regions including Chefchaouen, Azilal, Ifrane, Midelt, Boulemane, Sefrou, and Al Hoceima are expected to receive between 15 to 30 centimeters of snow.

Accompanying the snowfall, significant rainfall is forecast for northern regions. The Tangier-Asilah area, along with cities such as Larache, M'diq, Fnideq, Tetouan, Ouezzane, Fahs-Anjra, Chefchaouen, and Taounate, can expect precipitation between 40 to 60 millimeters. The weather system will also affect Sidi Kacem and Kenitra.

This precipitation arrives at a crucial time for Morocco's agricultural sector, which has endured six consecutive seasons of drought. Recent data offers a glimmer of hope for the 2024-2025 agricultural season. The Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts reports that rainfall from September to December last year averaged 50 millimeters – nearly double the amount recorded during the same period in the previous year.

This unexpected winter weather pattern not only provides essential moisture for agriculture but also creates stunning imagery visible from space, marking a potential turning point in Morocco's ongoing struggle with drought conditions.