In a rare and surprising event, the Sahara Desert has been transformed by heavy rains, turning its sandy dunes into large lakes. The typically dry region, particularly in southeast Morocco, witnessed significant flooding in September after intense downpours, marking the first occurrence of such weather in decades, according to CNN.
NASA data revealed that some areas of the desert received nearly 8 inches of rainfall, drastically altering the landscape into a water-filled terrain. In the city of Errachidia, located in southeast Morocco, close to 3 inches of rain was recorded—four times the area’s average for the month. Houssine Youabeb, a representative from Morocco’s meteorology agency, commented, “It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve seen this much rain in such a short period.”
Merzouga, a town known for its iconic sand dunes, was among the areas most affected. New lakes formed across the dunes, with palm trees now reflecting in these newly created bodies of water. Similarly, dry lakes in Iriqui National Park were filled after the relentless rains.
Although much of the rainfall hit remote regions, some towns and villages experienced deadly consequences. Last month, the floods claimed the lives of over a dozen people. Satellite images have since revealed an unusual sight—vast stretches of the northwest Sahara now covered in greenery, a rare phenomenon in the world’s largest hot desert.
Experts attribute this unprecedented rainfall to climate change, cautioning that such extreme weather events may become more frequent in the Sahara as global temperatures rise due to pollution from fossil fuels. The flooding serves as a powerful reminder of how human activities can disrupt natural systems, potentially reshaping the desert’s ecosystem with increased rainfall in the years to come.
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