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A rare deluge of rain poured over parts of the Sahara Desert, transforming its arid landscape into an oasis of blue lagoons and flowing water. Southeastern Morocco, one of the most arid regions on the planet, experienced this rare rainfall in late summer, receiving more water in a matter of days than it had seen in decades.

ICYMI: Rare flooding seen in Moroccan Sahara Desert

The Morocco region of the Sahara Desert has recently seen the kind of rainfall not witnessed for decades.

A drone camera captured this rare phenomenon, with reports that even a local lake, dry for half a century, now contains… pic.twitter.com/po736W0dYK

— John Metzner (@JohnRMetzner) October 9, 2024

 

The desert communities, which usually see less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rainfall annually, were hit with a two-day storm in September that far exceeded yearly averages. According to the Moroccan government, areas like Tata, one of the hardest-hit regions, received significant rainfall, with Tagounite, a village located about 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of Rabat, recording over 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) in just 24 hours.

 

 

The result was a striking transformation of the desert. Scenes of water gushing through sand dunes and collecting around palm trees became a common sight, captivating both residents and tourists. NASA satellite images revealed that Lake Iriqui, a famous lake bed that had been dry for 50 years, had refilled, creating an extraordinary sight between Zagora and Tata. In tourist-frequented desert areas, 4x4 vehicles powered through water-filled dunes as locals marveled at the rare event.

 

“It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve had this much rain in such a short space of time,” said Houssine Youabeb of Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology. Meteorologists described the phenomenon as an extratropical storm, suggesting it could impact the region’s weather for months or even years. Youabeb noted that the increased moisture in the atmosphere could draw more storms to the region in the future. For Morocco, this comes after six consecutive years of drought that have severely impacted the country, forcing many farmers to leave their fields and requiring communities to ration water.

 

The unexpected bounty of rain is expected to help replenish the vast groundwater aquifers beneath the desert, which are essential for supplying water to the region’s communities. Throughout September, dammed reservoirs in the area reported refilling at record rates. However, despite the much-needed rainfall, the long-term effects on the drought are uncertain.

While the rains brought relief to the parched land, they also caused destruction. Water rushing through the sands claimed more than 20 lives in Morocco and Algeria, damaging farmers' crops and prompting the government to allocate emergency relief funds. Some of these funds are also being directed to areas affected by last year’s earthquake.

 

This rare event has offered a glimpse of the desert in a form that few have seen, but it has also served as a reminder of the region's vulnerability to both drought and intense storms.

 

Based on a report from The Guardian | X 2024-10-14

 

 

 

[Danderman123]

This was probably a one time event, but Climate Change could alter wind direction enough that the Sahara reverts back to grasslands.

[Cryingdick]

 Am sure the people living there would hate it if it rained more and it became a subtropical paradise. Because after all we like sand.

[impulse]

3 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 Am sure the people living there would hate it if it rained more and it became a subtropical paradise. Because after all we like sand.

 

Wouldn't it be a kick in the nuts if climate change opened up millions of square kilometers to human habitation and agriculture, like Greenland, Antarctica and the Sahara?

 

[JonnyF]

Just goes to show that for every negative consequence of climate change there is a positive.

 

We can't change it anyway. Been happening for millions of years.

 

Great excuse for higher taxes and bigger state control though. That's why the socialists keep banging on about it.

 

[placeholder]

8 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Just goes to show that for every negative consequence of climate change there is a positive.

Is that what it shows? Got that gem out of a scientific journal, did you?

[CallumWK]

Amazing how quickly those palm trees grew around the new pond

[metisdead]

A troll post trolling about Trump has been removed.