The Sahara Desert experienced flooding for the first time in five decades. This rare rain event has filled Lake Iriqui, a once-dry lake bed that had remained empty for 50 years.
Also Read: 73% Decline in Global Wildlife Populations Over 50 Years
In September 2024, parts of southeastern Morocco experienced a rare and extraordinary rainfall event. The rainfall totals exceeded the annual averages of several regions with more than 100mm recorded in just 24 hours in Tagounite.
This amount of rain surpasses the typical yearly rainfall in this region, which usually sees less than 250 mm annually.
NASA’s satellite imagery captured stunning visuals of once-dry lakebeds such as Lake Iriqui, being filled with water for the first time in over 50 years.
The rainfall resulted in the formation of temporary lakes in areas of southeastern Morocco in the desert town of Merzouga, near Rachidia.
Lake Iriqui situated between Zagora and Tata, had been dry for decades. Satellite images from NASA showed the lake being refilled as rainwater rushed into the previously barren landscape.
In addition to naturally forming lakes, dammed reservoirs in the region also refilled at record rates throughout September.
The heavy rains were caused by an extratropical storm. Meteorologists warned that this event could signify changes to the region’s weather patterns.
The stormy conditions are expected to bring more rainfall in the coming months and years, as the atmosphere retains more moisture.
According to Houssine Youabeb, an official from Morocco’s meteorology agency such rainfall has not been seen in the area for 30 to 50 years.
The Sahara Desert spans over 9.4 million square kilometersacross North, West, and Central Africa. Drought has been a problem in the region.
For six consecutive years, droughts have created challenges in Morocco, forcing farmers to abandon their fields and leading to water rationing in both cities and rural communities.
The sudden deluge offered temporary relief to areas affected by the drought, though it remains uncertain how much the rainfall will contribute to easing water scarcity.
In southeastern Morocco, two days of heavy rain in September exceeded the annual average rainfall for the region, which typically receives less than 250 millimeters annually.
Areas such as Tata recorded over 100 millimeters of rainfall in just 24 hours. This deluge has turned the sand dunes into temporary lakes and the surrounding plains into lush, green fields.
Lake Iriqui had remained completely dry for the past 50 years and it was captured filling up with water by NASA satellite imagery, the first time in half a century that the lake has held any water.
Also Read: Storm Milton News: Storm Milton Expected to Bring Heavy Rain to Florida
This rare rain has been a double-edged sword. While the rainfall provides much-needed water for the aquifers that sustain human and agricultural activities in the region, it also caused damage to property and livelihoods.
Over 20 people lost their lives due to flooding in Morocco and Algeria, with the heavy rains devastating crops and agricultural lands including fields of almonds, dates and cereals.
The Moroccan government responded by allocating emergency relief funds to assist those affected by the floods. This support is crucial for communities already struggling with the aftermath of the drought that has plagued the region for six consecutive years.
Meteorologists have described the event as being triggered by an extratropical storm, an unusual weather system that brought moisture to the region.
Houssine Youabeb from Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology explained that the storm delivered more rain than the area had seen in over 30 to 50 years.
The convergence of atmospheric factors including shifts in air currents and an increase in evaporation due to global warming.
As global temperatures rise, the air retains more moisture leading to more frequent storms in regions where they were previously rare such as the Sahara Desert.
Scientists and climatologists believe that this rare event is a direct result of climate change, which is driving more extreme weather patterns worldwide.
Rising global temperatures have accelerated the hydrological cycle leading to weather patterns characterized by either too much or too little rain.
According to Celeste Saulo, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, the world is experiencing an increasing number of weather-related crises including floods, droughts and storms.
While the rare rains brought hope for the recovery of water supplies, they also left destruction in their wake. The floods resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people in Morocco alone, while Algeria, which was also affected by the storm.
Many regions impacted by the rainfall had already been struggling with the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck the area last year.
According to Celeste Saulo, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, the accelerating hydrological cycle is leading to more extreme weather events with regions across the globe experiencing either too much or too little water.
Also Read: Bosnia Floods News: At Least 21 Killed and Dozens Missing
