Rare rain floods Sahara Desert, dry lake filled for first time in 50 years

A rare downpour has transformed the Sahara desert, one of the world’s most dry and arid regions, into a scene of blue lagoons nestled between palm trees and sand dunes.

The unexpected rain left stunning images of water coursing through the Saharan sands, surrounding ancient castles and desert flora. Satellite imagery captured the remarkable filling of Lake Iriqui, a famous lake bed that had been dry for half a century.

Southeastern Morocco typically sees little to no rain in late summer. However, in September, two days of rainfall exceeded the annual average in several areas that receive less than 250 millimetres of rain per year.

Tata, one of the hardest-hit regions, experienced unprecedented rainfall, with more than 100 millimetres recorded in a 24-hour period in the village of Tagounite, about 450 kilometres south of Rabat.

“It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve seen this much rain in such a short time,” said Houssine Youabeb from Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology.

Meteorologists, referring to the event as an extratropical storm, suggested that this rainfall might alter the region’s weather patterns in the coming months and years. As the air retains more moisture, increased evaporation could lead to more frequent storms, Youabeb explained.

The downpours also brought tragedy, leaving over 20 dead in Morocco and Algeria and devastating farmers’ crops. In response, the Moroccan government has allocated emergency relief funds, especially for areas also affected by last year’s earthquake.