Rabat – Authorities in the province of Larache have stressed that the ongoing evacuation of shelter centers in Ksar El Kebir is part of precautionary and organizational measures aimed at protecting residents amid evolving hydrological risks.
The process is being carried out gradually and in a controlled manner, officials noted, explaining that it includes continuous assessments of water levels and potential threats to ensure citizens’ safety and enable proactive intervention.
“These measures aim to ensure the safety of citizens and to take th necessary proactive actions,” local authorities said.
The General Directorate of Meteorology explained today that an unusually intense storm is hitting northern Morocco, attributing the situation to a rare large-scale atmospheric configuration.
According to the weather office, several locations– including southern France, the far northwest of Arica are experiencing a succession of weather disturbances bringing prolonged rainfall with intense and local storms.
It explained how the situation is also the result of a strong thermal contrast between cold polar air descending from North America and warm, humid subtropical air.
“This contrast strengthens the jet stream and enables large amounts of water vapor to be transported toward Western Eurppe ad the Maghreb in the form of atmospheric rivers– a mechanism already discussed in our previous communications,” the weather office said.
It clarified that the atmospheric river is driving a continuous sequence of Atlantic disturbances throughout the week, stressing that northern Morocco, including Tangier and Tetouan regions are particularly affected.
It also recalled the red weather alerts issued throughout the week, including one that was directed to the Rif, Chefchaouen, and Tetouan regions. The weather directorate stressed that rainfall accumulation could potentially reach 100 to 150 millimeters.
It is the stormy and concentrated nature of the rainfall that requires maximum vigilancem” the directorate said, urging citizens in the affected regions to exercise extreme caution in flood-prone and low-lying regions.
A few dozen minutes of heavy rain could cause flooding during stormy episodes, the weather office said.
Moroccan authorities, including the army, have been mobilized in all at-risk areas, especially in Ksar EL Kbeir and Sidi Kacem and beyond, to tackle any situation attributed to heavy rainfall and storms –especially as many rivers and dams reached their full capacity.
