STELIOS MISINAS
Sahara desert flood

In September 2024, southeastern Morocco witnessed a rare Sahara Desert flood caused by an extratropical cyclone, delivering more rain in two days than the region typically receives in a year. Villages like Tagounite faced over 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain in just 24 hours, resulting in flash floods that disrupted infrastructure and daily life.

The deluge transformed the arid landscape, filling Lake Iriqui—a dry lakebed untouched for over 50 years. This dramatic event underscores the impact of climate change, as rising global temperatures increase atmospheric moisture, fueling extreme weather events. Such changes are reshaping the environment of the Sahara Desert, highlighting the urgent need for climate action to address intensifying weather patterns and their effects on fragile ecosystems.

A drone view shows sand dunes and palm trees partially covered by floodwaters, after rare rainfall hit the area last September, in Merzouga, Morocco, October 24, 2024.

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