Sahara Desert Experiences Rare Flooding for First Time in Decades

Sahara Desert Experiences Rare Flooding

Unprecedented Flooding Transforms Sahara Desert into Lakes

For the first time in decades, the Sahara Desert has been dramatically transformed by significant flooding, resulting in large lakes forming amidst the iconic rolling sand dunes. This rare weather event occurred after intense rain fell in southeast Morocco, driven by a low-pressure system that swept across northwestern Sahara.

Typically, the Sahara receives only a few inches of rain each year, and rainfall in late summer is especially uncommon. However, in September, some areas experienced nearly 8 inches of rain over just two days. Errachidia, a desert city in Morocco, recorded nearly 3 inches of rainfall—more than four times the average for September and equivalent to over half a year’s worth of precipitation for the region.

Meteorologist Houssine Youabeb noted, “It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve had this much rain in such a short time.” The downpour reshaped the landscape, creating new lakes surrounded by palm trees and scrubby vegetation.

Dramatic scenes emerged from the town of Merzouga, where the floodwaters carved out lagoons within the sand dunes, reflecting the town’s palm trees across the newly formed waters. Even normally dry lakes, such as those in Iriqui National Park—Morocco’s largest national park—were filled by the rains.

While much of the precipitation fell in remote areas, some regions experienced severe flooding that tragically claimed over a dozen lives. The Sahara, covering 3.6 million square miles, is the world’s largest non-polar desert. Recent satellite images revealed vast stretches of the desert carpeted in green, a result of storms moving further north than usual.

Research suggests that more extreme rainfall events could become more common in the Sahara due to climate change, as fossil fuel emissions continue to heat the planet and disrupt natural weather patterns. This unprecedented flooding serves as a stark reminder of the changing climate and its impacts on even the most arid regions.

Sahara Desert Experiences Rare Flooding for First Time in Decades