Significant Rainfall Boosts Morocco's Water Reserves
In a remarkable turn of events, Morocco has recorded an average rainfall of 213.8 mm during the hydrological year from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026. This figure marks a staggering 51% increase compared to the previous year, which had seen just 141.7 mm of rainfall. Furthermore, this year's precipitation exceeds the climatological norm for the period from 1991 to 2020 by 13.3%, where the average was established at 188.7 mm. According to the Ministry of Equipment, Water, and Forests, this marks the first national improvement in water reserves after seven consecutive years of drought, providing a much-needed respite for the country's water supply system.
The distribution of rainfall has varied significantly across different basins in Morocco. The Bouregreg and Chaouia basins saw increases of 38%, while the Loukkos and Sebou basins recorded increases of 36.2% and 29.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, the Oum Er-Rbia basin increased by 21.9%, and Tensift saw a rise of 19.4%. The Souss-Massa region remained closest to normal levels with an increase of 7.7%. Conversely, some regions such as the Moulouya experienced a slight decrease of 0.1%, while the Draâ-Oued Noun and Sakia El Hamra-Oued Eddahab saw declines of 3.2% and 12.2%. Notably, the latter area, which is typically dry, recorded a remarkable 436.8% increase in rainfall compared to 2025.
In terms of water supply by hydraulic basin, the total contributions amounted to 18.245 billion m³, with the reservoirs storing 11.2 billion m³, representing 65.84% of their capacity as of November 7. The contributions and potable water supplies are detailed in the following table:
| Basin | Water Contributions (million m³) | Potable Water Supply (million m³) | Irrigation Supply (million m³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebou | 6,975 | 63 | 399 |
| Oum Er-Rbia | 4,208 | 266 | 432 |
| Loukkos | 3,390 | 172 | 181 |
| Bouregreg and Chaouia | 1,588 | 350 | 7 |
| Moulouya | 1,006 | 50 | 283 |
| Souss-Massa | 386 | 26 | 33 |
| Tensift | 338 | 41 | 49 |
| Draâ-Oued Noun | 218 | 14 | 96 |
| Guir-Ziz-Rheris | 138 | 0 | 114 |
| Total | 18,245 | 982 | 1,593 |
Despite the increase in rainfall, temperatures from January to October 2026 have exceeded the average from 1991-2020 by 0.98°C, with eight out of the ten months being warmer than normal. September, in particular, set a record with a temperature increase of 2.75°C compared to the average of 2.00°C from 1987.
The Ministry is also enhancing its meteorological capabilities with the "Ghaith" cloud seeding program, which received a budget of 40.34 million dirhams (MDH) in 2026 for new centers and sites across various regions. The 2026-2030 phase of the program is estimated to cost 159.5 MDH. The observation network has expanded significantly, boasting 433 automatic stations as of September 2026, up from 198 in 2021, representing a 119% increase. Four Doppler radars, costing 62.8 MDH, have been installed in Agadir, Khouribga, Larache, and the Ourika-Marrakech-Ménara area, with plans for two additional radars in 2027.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
