Longest drought in decades ends in Morocco

Above-average rainfall and snowfall sharply boosted dam levels across the country over the past season

Morocco’s seven-year drought has ended following heavy winter rainfall and snow, the government said this week, bringing a major shift in the country’s water situation. 

Speaking during a session of the House of Representatives in Rabat on Monday, Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka said rainfall from September 1 to January 12 reached 108 millimeters, around 95% more than the same period last year and 17% above the long-term seasonal average. 

“With these levels, we can say that Morocco has officially exited the drought years,” Baraka stated.

According to MoroccoWorldNews outlet, the heavy precipitation drastically improved dam levels. The national average dam-filling rate rose to around 46% from 31% in December, with total water stored at around 7.7 billion cubic meters.

Several major reservoirs that supply cities and farmland reached near-capacity, Baraka said, with some dams reporting fill rates from 80% to 100%. The minister also reported that the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah dam was around 92% full and water was being released to prevent overcapacity.

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The notable snow cover this season also contributed to replenishing water resources. Baraka said snowfall initially covered 55,495 square kilometers of mountainous terrain.

Before the rains, Morocco’s dams and reservoirs were deeply depleted after years of below-average precipitation. Official data in late 2025 showed that national dam reserves had fallen to around one-third of total capacity. 

Prolonged drought pushed Morocco onto the global list of drought-affected hotspots, according to a report cited by Morocco World News in July. The report warned that chronically low water availability was placing growing strain on households, agriculture, and water infrastructure, as repeated dry years reduced rainfall, weakened groundwater reserves, and increased pressure on farms and rural livelihoods. 

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In December, Reuters noted that Morocco aimed to expand desalination capacity to offset water shortages and supply drinking water, with the goal of sourcing 60% of drinking water from treated seawater by 2030.