Weather
Major factors influencing Morocco’s climate are its mountain ranges, desert and coastline.
Morocco’s prevailing climate is strongly influenced by elevation, with the Rif and High Atlas Mountains experiencing significantly higher precipitation and creating a noticeable rain shadow effect. Snow is common at elevations above 2,000 m (6,500 ft).
South of the Anti-Atlas Mountains, semiarid conditions give way to the true desert conditions of the Sahara. A hot, dry and dusty wind called the Chergui (or Sharqi) blows across the Sahara each year in late spring or summer, sweeping over the mountains and penetrating the lowlands and even coastal cities. Similar to the Sirocco wind that blows across the Sahara and over northeastern Africa and southern Europe, the powerful Chergui dramatically increases temperatures and can cause extensive damage to crops.
Coastal and northern Morocco experiences a typical Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and wet mild winters. Rainfall is low, and gradually decreases moving north to south, although torrential downpours occasionally cause damaging flooding. Coastal breezes from the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans effects temperatures in the coastal lowlands, resulting in noticeably cooler summers and warmer winters than further inland.
In Marrakech, average daily temperatures range from a minimum of 5.2°C (41°F) to a maximum of 17.4°C (63°F) in January, to a minimum of 20.1°C (68°F) to a maximum of 37.9°C (100°F) in July.
In Casablanca, average daily temperatures range from a minimum of 7.2°C (45°F) to a maximum of 17.1°C (63°F) in January, to a minimum of 20.1°C (68°F) to a maximum of 26.2°C (79°F) in July.
If you are visiting Morocco in December and January it is important to bring warm clothes, and be prepared for a variety of temperatures. Also, not all hotels and restaurants have heating and you’ll often find it’s colder inside than outside.
On Mt Toubkal, the weather is unpredictable, however is likely to be very cold and windy. It is important that you are prepared.