This may not be the first thing that pops in your head when you think of this country, but yes it does in fact snow in Morocco. Each year without fail, Ifrane sees snow from October onwards, which can go on until April. Located in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco, Ifrane is Africa’s coldest town which is known for its snow, frozen lakes and skiing with low temperatures that can drop to -11C in the winter. Locals even call it “the Switzerland of Morocco” with its altitude of over 5,413 feet and the Michlifen ski resort where you’ll be skiiing in the middle of cedar forests with five different pistes to choose from.
Ifrane holds the record for the lowest temperature ever experienced in the entire African continent with a recorded temperature low of -23.9C in February 1935. Not only has it been crowned the coldest in Africa, it is also one of the cleanest cities in the world having been named the world’s second cleanest city in 2016 for its excellent quality of air, its national park and its natural spring water sources, according to a survey by the MBC Times.
According to Weather Spark, the coldest month of the year in Ifrane is Janaury reaching on average 5.7 inches of snow.
The town often experiences ice cold weather with -10C recorded in the winter of 2015, according to Medias24 and -11C recorded in 2011 when it recorded its coldest temperature within three decades, Bladi.net reported.
The altitude as well as the town’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean make it a very cold area – a stark contrast to the rest of the country’s warm weather averaging around 21C in April, according to Thomas Cook.
In the desert areas of Marrakech and Ouarzazate, temperatures can reach up to 45C in July.
In Ifrane, you can also see wild Barbary macaque monkeys wandering about the national park , a royal palace, stunning gardens, and lakes that freeze up during the coldest months.
Ifrane also differs to other parts of the country in its architecture.
The French Alpine architecture of the town’s buildings, chalets and houses are also similar to those you’d find in Switzerland with high pitched roofs, gables, pine panelling, pointed roofs .
Between Fez and Marrakech, Ifrane offers a great escape from the heat during the summer months and a lovely place for skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
