Southern Morocco victim of cloud seeding program?

Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology has denied any link between the cloud seeding program and the recent floods in the south of the country, assuring that this technology is used with caution and according to strict international standards.

In an official statement, the management clarified that no cloud seeding operations were carried out during the severe weather that hit the Atlas and southeastern regions this month. The “Al Ghaith” program, set up to increase rainfall in a controlled environment, follows a rigorous scientific protocol aimed at avoiding the risks associated with extreme weather events.

Cloud seeding, which involves using aircraft or ground-based generators to inject substances such as salt or silver nitrate into the atmosphere to promote precipitation, has been practiced in Morocco since 1984. The program, launched at the initiative of King Hassan II after a long period of drought, is now an essential tool for managing the country’s water resources.

The management also specified that the operations of the program are carefully monitored using modern radars, satellite data and digital weather models. Currently, Morocco has 20 land sites and specialized aircraft to carry out these interventions safely.

In addition, a project to expand the programme is underway to strengthen its reach. Additional centres will be set up in regions such as Taza, Khenifra, Tansift and Souss, in order to expand coverage of the country’s mountain ranges and better meet the water needs of agriculture and other key sectors.

In conclusion, the Moroccan authorities were keen to stress that the cloud seeding programme is an essential asset in the fight against drought, and that it is managed with great scientific rigour, refuting any responsibility for the recent floods.

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