As the remnants of Storm Marta churned across the Strait of Gibraltar on February 8, 2026, residents of this historic port city surveyed a landscape transformed by chaos: streets turned into raging torrents, cars submerged in muddy waters, and homes evacuated under the relentless downpour.
The storm, which made landfall near Tangier just a day earlier on February 7, unleashed hurricane-force winds gusting up to 110 kilometers per hour (about 68 miles per hour) and torrential rains that exceeded 70 millimeters in some areas within hours, equivalent to weeks of typical precipitation in this semi-arid region.
Coming on the heels of Storm Leonardo, which had already saturated the ground and swollen rivers, Marta amplified a humanitarian crisis that displaced over 150,000 people in northern Morocco, claimed at least four lives, and inflicted widespread damage across the Iberian Peninsula.
This latest tempest underscores a grim reality for North Africa and the Mediterranean: Climate change is intensifying storms, turning what were once rare deluges into recurrent threats. Yet, amid the devastation, Morocco’s evolving early warning systems and disaster risk reduction efforts demonstrated progress, saving lives through timely evacuations. However, experts warn that gaps in infrastructure and preparedness leave the region perilously exposed.
From Atlantic Low to Mediterranean Menace
Storm Marta originated as a low-pressure system off the coast of Portugal in the North Atlantic, rapidly intensifying into a cyclone-like disturbance as it interacted with warmer Mediterranean waters. By February 7, it slammed into northern Morocco near Tangier, dumping heavy rains across the Loukkos River basin and the Rif Mountains before veering northeast toward southern Spain’s Andalusia region and Portugal’s Algarve and Porto areas. Persistent showers lingered into February 8, exacerbating flooding as dams overflowed and rivers burst their banks.
Meteorologists from Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology had tracked the system and issued red alerts for severe weather, including rough seas and potential landslides. The Tanger Med port, a vital trade hub, was shuttered, halting ferry services to Spain and stranding thousands of travelers.
In Ksar El Kebir, a city of about 150,000 northwest of Fez, authorities evacuated nearly half the population, over 50,000 people, as the Loukkos River threatened to inundate homes. Emergency camps were set up, with rescuers deploying boats and helicopters amid reports of submerged streets and damaged infrastructure.
Human and Economic Toll: A Cascade of Devastation
In Morocco, the floods claimed at least four lives, including drownings in overflowing wadis (dry riverbeds that fill rapidly during storms). The displacement figure exceeded 150,000, with grassroots solidarity efforts—including donations from across the country—rushing aid to affected areas. Farmers in the Loukkos basin reported ruined crops, echoing broader agricultural losses that could strain food security in a nation recovering from a seven-year drought.
Across the strait, Spain evacuated more than 11,000 people in Andalusia, where 168 roads were closed, train services were disrupted, and fields of broccoli and other produce were submerged, resulting in estimated losses of millions of euros. In Portugal, over 8,000 rescues were conducted amid river overflows in Porto and the Algarve, compounding five deaths from prior storms in the “storm train” sequence. A state of emergency was extended, with 26,500 rescuers mobilized.
No major impacts were reported beyond these areas, but warnings persisted for lingering floods and rough seas.
Historical Context: A Pattern of Peril in North Africa
Storms like Marta are not anomalies in Morocco’s history, but their frequency and ferocity have escalated. The country has experienced more than 80 flood events since the 1950s, with floods accounting for 62% of natural disasters between 1970 and 2020 and causing 42% of related deaths. In 2025, flash floods in Safi killed 37, the deadliest in a decade.
The 2024 floods in Morocco and Algeria claimed over 20 lives, while the 2023 earthquake in the High Atlas killed nearly 3,000 people, compounding vulnerabilities exposed by Storm Daniel‘s floods in Libya.
Broader North African patterns reveal a region prone to compound hazards: droughts followed by sudden floods, as seen at the end of Morocco’s seven-year dry spell, which led to oversaturated soils. Historical storms, like Hercules in 2014, have caused similar coastal inundations, driven by Atlantic depressions interacting with Mediterranean topography.
In the African context, Morocco’s experiences mirror broader challenges across the continent.
From Cyclone Idai’s devastation in Mozambique in 2019 to recent droughts in the Horn of Africa, disasters displace millions annually, exacerbating poverty and conflict. Yet, Africa’s contribution to global emissions is minimal (less than 4%), highlighting inequities in climate impacts.
Climate Change: Fueling Fiercer Storms
Experts attribute Marta’s intensity to climate change, which has warmed the Mediterranean 1.5 times faster than the global average, increasing sea surface temperatures and atmospheric moisture capacity by up to 7% per degree Celsius. This leads to heavier rains and stronger cyclones, with projections indicating fewer but more extreme events. In Africa, heavy precipitation is expected to intensify almost everywhere, with marine heatwaves spiking storm potential.
“These storms are becoming our new normal,” said Mohammed Benabboo, a Moroccan climate expert, noting uneven rainfall distribution that overwhelms infrastructure.
Risk Reduction and Early Warnings: Progress and Gaps
Morocco’s response highlighted advancements in disaster risk reduction (DRR). The National DRM Strategy (2021-2030) and the Fund for the Fight against Natural Hazards have financed more than 230 projects totaling $304 million, including flood protection and early warning systems. The “Vigirisque Inondations” system, operational since 2023 in pilot areas, enabled the issuance of red alerts and evacuations, which likely prevented higher casualties.
In the African context, initiatives such as the African Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) and CREWS aim to scale such capabilities across the continent. Yet, challenges persist: Understaffed agencies, urban sprawl, and neglected infrastructure amplify risks. In Rabat-Salé, for instance, rapid urbanization heightens flood vulnerability despite improved monitoring.
Urban resilience strategies in cities such as Fez emphasize inclusive governance, but experts call for greater investment in community education and South-South exchanges.
Recovery and the Road Ahead
As recovery begins, Moroccan authorities are releasing dam waters in a controlled manner and distributing aid, while warnings about rough seas persist. International partners, including the European Union, have pledged support. However, with climate projections forecasting drier averages punctuated by more severe, Morocco and its neighbors must accelerate DRR to build genuine resilience.
In a region where disasters increasingly define development, Marta’s legacy may spur the transformative action needed before the next storm arrives.
