Unexpected Rains Revitalize Sahara Desert After 50

Lake Iriqui refilled after 50 years

Meteorologists have described the event as an extratropical storm, and experts suggest it may have lasting effects on the region’s climate. In an unusual and dramatic development, southeastern Morocco experienced severe flooding after two days of heavy rainfall in parts of the Sahara Desert, with precipitation surpassing the area’s yearly averages.

Morocco’s meteorology agency reported that the village of Tagounite, located 450 kilometers south of Rabat, recorded over 100mm of rainfall in just 24 hours during September.

NASA’s satellite images revealed that Lake Iriqui, a dry lake bed between Zagora and Tata that had been dry for 50 years, was refilled by the floodwaters.

Unexpected Rains Revitalize Sahara Desert After 50: Houssine Youabeb, an official from Morocco’s meteorology agency, told the Associated Press, “It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve seen this amount of rain in such a short period.”

The flooding last month claimed 18 lives and impacted regions still recovering from an earthquake the year before, according to The Guardian. In the southeast, dammed reservoirs refilled at unprecedented rates in September.

The Sahara Desert, which covers over 9 million square kilometers across North, Central, and West Africa, is increasingly threatened by extreme weather due to global warming. Scientists caution that storms of this magnitude could become more frequent in the future.

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, explained that rising temperatures have sped up the hydrological cycle, making it more erratic and unpredictable. She highlighted the growing issue of either excessive or insufficient water, noting that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall, while faster evaporation and soil drying worsen droughts.

Unexpected Rains Revitalize Sahara Desert After 50: The Sahara, the world’s largest desert, experienced flooding for the first time in 50 years following an unusual rainfall event in Morocco. Satellite images captured the extraordinary refilling of Lake Iriqui, a well-known dry lake bed that had remained arid for half a century.

Southeastern Morocco, which usually sees minimal rainfall in late summer, was hit with two days of rain in September that exceeded the annual average in several regions, where yearly precipitation is typically less than 250 millimeters.

One of the most affected areas, Tata, saw unprecedented rainfall, with over 100 millimeters recorded in just 24 hours in the village of Tagounite, 450 kilometers south of Rabat.

Unexpected Rains Revitalize Sahara Desert After 50: A rare and unexpected downpour has transformed some of the driest regions on Earth. In the heart of the Sahara, water now glistens between palm trees and sand dunes, bringing life to areas that had long suffered from drought.

Southeastern Morocco, where rain is particularly uncommon in late summer, has been revitalized by a deluge not seen in 50 years.

Morocco’s meteorology agency reported that the village of Tagounite, 450 kilometers south of Rabat, received over 100mm of rain within 24 hours this September, far exceeding the region’s yearly rainfall. NASA satellite images revealed that Lake Iriqui, a dry lake bed for half a century, has been refilled by this heavy rainfall.

Houssine Youabeb, an official from Morocco’s meteorology agency, noted it has been 30 to 50 years since the region experienced such intense rainfall in a short time, according to the Associated Press.

Meteorologists classified the event as an extratropical storm, with experts warning that it could have lasting climate impacts on the region. Youabeb further explained that the increased moisture in the air drives higher evaporation, leading to more frequent storms.

Last month, severe flooding claimed 18 lives in Morocco, affecting areas still recovering from the previous year’s earthquake, as reported by The Guardian. Additionally, dammed reservoirs in the southeast were filled at unprecedented rates.

The Sahara Desert, spanning over 9 million square kilometers across North, Central, and West Africa, faces increasing risks from extreme weather due to global warming. Scientists warn that storms of this magnitude could become more frequent in the future.

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, stated that rising temperatures have sped up the hydrological cycle, making it more erratic and unpredictable. She emphasized that warmer air holds more moisture, contributing to heavy rainfall, while faster evaporation and drying of soils intensify drought conditions.