This photograph shows sunset in the dunes of the Sahara Desert. Although weather conditions are normally very good in the south of Morocco, it is not uncommon for clouds to roll in at the end of the day. In a country the size of Morocco and in one with such varying topography it is difficult to generalise about climate so is best divided into zones.
Coastal areas tend to have a less extreme and more temperate climate than the interior, feeling pleasantly warm in winter and not ferociously hot in summer. Most Atlantic regions benefit from a stiff sea breeze which keeps summer temperatures down, and rainfall levels, although not high, are significantly higher than in low lying areas in the interior of the country.
The plains of the interior, for example around Marrakech and Fez show extremes of temperature, from punishingly hot in summer (particularly during July and August) to cold in winter, although the Moroccan sun is always hot, year round. Precipitation levels are very low, and any rain that does fall is most likely in November, February and April.
The Atlas Mountains and their associated sub-ranges are subject to variable climatic conditions with much higher levels of precipitation (falling both as rain and snow in the high mountains), and colder – often sub-zero – conditions. There are significant regional variations, but generally the north side of the mountains is more bearably hot in summer, and colder in winter than the south side. Night time winter temperatures can fall as low as -10ºC and daytime summer temperatures can climb into the upper 30sºC.
The south of Morocco is notoriously hot in summer, particularly on the fringes of the Sahara. It’s not the time to visit these regions with burning hot sandstorms regularly flaring up. In winter (particularly December and January), daytime temperatures are very pleasant but there’s a dramatic tailing off by evening time and at night temperatures can drop well below freezing.
The north of Morocco is very lush by comparison as a result of much higher rainfall and temperate conditions. Generally-speaking Morocco is an extremely sunny country (Marrakech for example registers some 300+ days of sunshine each year) so most holidays will be accompanied by a certain amount of good weather, even if you do experience one or two cloudy or wet days in the course of a week.
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