فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
RABAT – As heatwaves continue to affect various regions of the kingdom, a striking phenomenon has emerged: the simultaneous occurrence of these record-high temperatures with sudden thunderstorms. This has prompted meteorology experts to clarify the scientific relationship between these two seemingly contradictory phenomena.
Meteorology expert, Mohamed Jalil, explains that “high temperatures and the accompanying atmospheric instability create ideal conditions for the development of stormy phenomena, a situation particularly well-known in Morocco.”
In a post on LinkedIn, Jalil adds that the link between the current heatwave and thunderstorms is explained by their formation mechanism. He points out that “a thunderstorm develops when three conditions are met: strong atmospheric instability, sufficient humidity, and a trigger that forces the warm, moist air to rise.”
According to the same expert, summer heatwaves directly reinforce the first two conditions and facilitate the triggers. “Warm air at the surface is less dense and rises more easily, creating a highly unstable environment,” he states.
Furthermore, “the evaporation of water (from seas and oceans, and to a lesser extent from lakes, moist soil, etc.) increases the available humidity transported by air masses. This is why violent thunderstorms can erupt after several days of intense heat.”
Jalil distinguishes between two main types of thunderstorms that the kingdom experiences during the summer. The first is “orographic thunderstorms,” which form when air masses are forced to rise upon encountering a natural obstacle, i.e., relief.
He explains, “During a heatwave, the warm, moist air at the surface is pushed against the relief. As it rises, this air cools, the moisture condenses, and forms clouds.”
He adds, “The instability increased by the heat allows these clouds to rapidly develop into the cumuliform structures very characteristic of relief thunderstorms. This is why orographic thunderstorms are more frequent and intense in the mountainous regions of the Atlas and some parts of the Rif during the summer.”
The second type is “convective thunderstorms,” which form simply through thermal convection. “The air at the surface, heated by intense sunshine, becomes warmer and less dense than the surrounding air. It rises, cools, and condenses, forming convective clouds,” the senior consultant explains.
Jalil points out that “during heatwaves, the very hot air at the surface is a powerful trigger for these updrafts. This is why we often observe these thunderstorms in the late afternoon and early evening, after a day of intense heat, when convection is at its peak, on the plains and plateaus of Morocco (Rhamna, Chaouia, Sakia Al Hamra, etc.).”
However, all these stormy phenomena are known for their brevity and limited location. The expert urges caution, “especially for vacationers in the mountains or for drivers crossing wadis at their crossing points.”
He concludes by emphasizing that “this vigilance is primarily achieved by following the alerts issued by the General Directorate of Meteorology and by being aware of the risks when you are in a vulnerable area.”
