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Rare Rainfall Transforms Sahara Desert as Water Flows Through Dunes

Photo : AP

A rare and significant deluge of rainfall has transformed the arid landscapes of the Sahara desert, creating stunning blue lagoons among the palm trees and sand dunes. This unprecedented weather phenomenon has provided much-needed moisture to some of the driest regions of Morocco, offering more water than these areas have seen in decades.

The recent rains, which occurred in southeastern Morocco, are particularly notable given the region's reputation as one of the most arid places on the planet. Typically, the area sees very little rainfall during the late summer months. However, the Moroccan government reported that two days of torrential rain in September surpassed the annual rainfall averages in several locales that typically receive less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain each year. For instance, Tata, one of the hardest-hit areas, recorded substantial rainfall, with Tagounite, a village located about 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of the capital, Rabat, experiencing more than 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain within just a 24-hour period.

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The dramatic storms have yielded remarkable visual imagery, with water rushing through the Saharan sands amidst the region’s unique castles and diverse desert flora. Satellite imagery from NASA has revealed that Lake Iriqui, a well-known lake bed situated between Zagora and Tata, has finally filled with water after being dry for half a century.

In tourist-frequented desert communities, 4x4 vehicles navigated through the newly formed puddles as residents surveyed the awe-inspiring transformation of their environment. Houssine Youabeb from Morocco's General Directorate of Meteorology remarked, “It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve had this much rain in such a short space of time.”

Meteorologists have classified these rains as an extratropical storm, suggesting they could significantly influence the region's climate in the months and years to come. With the atmosphere retaining more moisture, this could lead to increased evaporation and potentially draw in more storms, reshaping the region's weather patterns.

The recent six-year drought in Morocco had already posed considerable challenges, forcing many farmers to leave their fields fallow while cities and villages implemented water rationing measures. The recent rainfall is expected to help replenish the large groundwater aquifers beneath the desert, which are vital for supplying water to local communities. Reports indicate that dammed reservoirs across the region have been refilling at unprecedented rates throughout September.

However, the impact of this month’s rains on the long-term drought situation remains uncertain. While the influx of water is welcomed, it has not come without consequences. In Morocco and Algeria, the flooding has resulted in over 20 fatalities and has severely damaged farmers’ harvests. In response, the government has allocated emergency relief funds, particularly in areas that were also affected by last year's earthquake, as communities begin the process of recovery from both natural disasters.

Oct. 9, 2024 12:15 p.m. 498

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