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The Sahara desert floods after 50 years of drought, with rare rainfall forming lagoons among the sand dunes. Experts warn this could change the region’s weather patterns.
Sahara desert floods bring unexpected rainfall
In a rare event, the Sahara desert floods have shocked both locals and tourists. Southeastern Morocco, known as one of the most arid places in the world, experienced heavy rainfall in September, causing a flood for the first time in 50 years. Areas like Tata, which typically see less than 250 millimeters of rain annually, were hit the hardest.
Extratropical storm causes Sahara desert-floods
The sudden Sahara desert floods were caused by what meteorologists are calling an extratropical storm. Tagounite, a village 450 kilometers south of Rabat, recorded more than 100 millimeters of rain in just 24 hours. Water gushed through the Saharan sands, filling Lake Iriqui, a once-dry lake bed that hadn’t seen water in half a century.
Impact of Sahara desert floods on local communities
The floods in Sahara desert have left a lasting impact on local desert communities. Tourists in 4x4s navigated through puddles, and residents were in awe of the scene. The region has suffered six years of drought, leading to water rationing. However, this bounty of rain will likely help refill groundwater aquifers, critical for desert water supply.
Long-term effects of Sahara desert-floods
While the floods in Sahara desert have helped replenish reservoirs at record rates, it’s uncertain how much this rainfall will alleviate the ongoing drought. Experts predict that such extratropical storms may become more frequent, potentially altering the desert’s weather patterns as the air retains more moisture, leading to more evaporation and storms in the future.
