What the weather is really like in Morocco?
People ask us about Morocco’s weather as if there’s one answer. There isn’t. On the same March afternoon you can be in shorts in Marrakech, in a coat in the Atlas, and watching the temperature drop fast over the dunes once the sun goes down. The country sits between the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Sahara, with two mountain ranges cutting through the middle. That mix is why the weather changes so much from one region to the next.
If you’re trying to decide which month to come, read our guide on the best time to visit Morocco. This page is about the climate itself, so you know what to expect and what to pack once you’ve picked your dates.
The coast
The Atlantic towns stay mild almost all year. Essaouira, Agadir and the area around Casablanca get a constant sea breeze, so even in July when Marrakech is baking, the coast feels fresh. Winters there are cool rather than cold, and the wind is a regular feature, which surfers love and sunbathers sometimes don’t. If you burn easily inland, the coast is where you’ll be comfortable in summer.
The cities inland
Marrakech, Fes and Meknes share the same pattern: long hot summers and short mild winters, with very little rain. July and August get genuinely hot, often past 40°C in the early afternoon, so we tell guests to do their sightseeing in the morning and rest through the middle of the day, the way locals do. Winter is the surprise for a lot of visitors. The days are sunny and pleasant, around 18 to 20°C, and the crowds are thin.
The Atlas mountains
Head up into the High Atlas and the climate shifts completely. Snow covers the peaks through winter, and you can ski at Oukaïmeden a couple of hours from Marrakech. Spring and early autumn are the best stretches for walking, when the valleys are green and the air is clear. One thing to remember: even in summer the nights are cold once you’re above two thousand metres, so a warm layer goes in the bag no matter when you trek.
The Sahara
The desert is the place that catches people out. The days and nights are nothing alike. In spring and autumn you get warm, easy days and cold nights, which is exactly why those are our busiest months for desert trips. Summer days are brutal, so we keep camel rides to sunrise and sunset. Winter flips it around: the days are pleasant and sunny, but the nights at camp can drop close to freezing. Whenever you go, pack for both ends of the day, because you’ll feel both.
When it rains
Most of the rain falls between November and March, and even then it’s mainly in the north and the mountains. The south and the Sahara stay dry through almost the whole year. Summer is bone dry across the country, so if you’re coming between June and September you can more or less forget about an umbrella.
What to bring
Whatever the season, pack layers. The sun is strong inland and in the desert year round, so bring a hat and good sunscreen even in winter. If you’re coming in the colder months, add a proper coat for the mountains and the desert nights, though you’ll still want lighter clothes for the cities during the day. And if the coast is on your route, throw in a light windbreaker, because Essaouira is breezy in every season.
A few common questions
What is the climate like in Morocco?
It depends on the region. The coast is mild, the inland cities are hot and dry in summer, the Atlas mountains get snow in winter, and the Sahara swings between hot days and cold nights. You can move between all of them in a single trip.
What is the hottest month in Morocco?
July and August, especially inland and in the desert where it regularly passes 40°C. The Atlantic coast stays much cooler.
Does it snow in Morocco?
Yes, in the High Atlas. There’s a ski resort at Oukaïmeden near Marrakech. It almost never snows in the cities and never in the desert.
When is the rainy season?
November to March, mostly in the north and the mountains. The south stays dry nearly all year.
Once you’ve got a feel for the climate, have a look at when to visit Morocco, or just tell us what you want to see and we’ll match the trip to the right season.