Ourika Valley
- Flash floods on the evening of Friday 2 October 2026, after storms on the heights
- Mud and stones on the road towards Setti Fatma, cleared by the authorities with machines
- Orange weather alerts on 4 and 6 October, including Al Haouz province
- Storms still forecast until Saturday 10 October, drier from Sunday 11
This page sums up what the Moroccan press and the national weather service have reported since Friday 2 October 2026, and what we do about it as a team working in the valley every day. We update it when the situation changes. For the forecast of the coming days, see the live table on our page about the weather in the Ourika Valley.
What happened in the Ourika Valley on 2 October 2026?
On the evening of Friday 2 October, strong thunderstorms and heavy rain fell on the heights around the valley. According to the Arabic edition of Le Site Info, sudden floods and torrents followed and disrupted traffic. Two days later, the same article noted that some tracks and passages near the riverbed were still cut and covered with mud, that bulldozers and machines from the local authorities had been working since Saturday to clear the roads, and that people were advised to postpone a visit to Ourika.
Al Oumma, on 5 October, gives more detail: muddy torrents ran down several ravines and pushed mud and stones onto the road, and rocks fell on the road between Ourika and Setti Fatma. Machines were sent to clear the road and reopen the affected sections one after the other. Sabah Agadir reported the same clearing work.
These reports describe material disruption: mud, stones and cut tracks. They mention no victims.
Which weather alerts were issued this week?
The Direction générale de la météorologie, the national weather service, has issued several orange alerts:
| Date | What the alert said | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 4 October | Heat in the south and locally strong storms with hail and gusts; more unstable weather expected from Tuesday on the High and Middle Atlas | Telegraphe.ma |
| Tuesday 6 October | Strong thundery showers with hail and gusts on Tuesday and Wednesday; 20 to 30 mm expected in Al Haouz province on Tuesday between 5 pm and 11 pm | MAP, via Le Site Info |
The Ourika Valley lies in Al Haouz province, so the alert of 6 October covers it directly.
Can you visit the Ourika Valley this week?
It depends on the day, and we decide day by day. Here is how we work while the alerts last:
- The evening before, we read the weather alerts and tell you if the trip is at risk.
- The same morning, our drivers check the state of the road and of the river before leaving Marrakech.
- We leave early. Storms in the Atlas usually build up in the afternoon, so the morning is the safer window.
- No walk to the waterfalls when a storm is announced. The path follows the stream. We stay in the villages and the cooperatives instead.
- If the valley is not safe, we propose another date or refund you in full.
The model behind our forecast table, read on 7 October, shows storms possible at Setti Fatma each day until Saturday 10 October, then dry weather from Sunday 11 October.
Why does the river rise so fast?
The Ourika is a short, steep mountain river. When a storm breaks on the heights, the water runs off bare slopes into narrow ravines and reaches the valley floor in a very short time, carrying mud and stones. The river can rise at Setti Fatma under a blue sky, because the rain fell higher up. The valley remembers the flood of 17 August 1995, which we describe in our page on the history of the Ourika Valley. This is why local guides watch the sky above the peaks, not only above the village.
What should you do if a storm starts while you are in the valley?
- Leave the riverbed and the restaurant terraces set at water level, and move up towards the road or the village.
- Do not cross the footbridges or the fords while the water is rising.
- Do not drive through water or mud running across the road. Wait for it to pass.
- Follow the instructions of the local guides and of the authorities. They know where the water comes down.
- Wait. A flash flood passes quickly, and the road is usually cleared afterwards.
For the walk itself, our guide to the Setti Fatma waterfalls explains the path and the footwear to bring.
Sources
- Le Site Info (Arabic edition), 4 October 2026: thunderstorms and floods in Ourika, calls to postpone travel
- Al Oumma, 5 October 2026: heavy rain in Ourika and Imilchil, mud and rockfall on the roads
- Sabah Agadir, 5 October 2026: floods in Ourika cut several roads
- MAP via Le Site Info, 6 October 2026: orange alert bulletin of the Direction générale de la météorologie
- Telegraphe.ma, 4 October 2026: heat and storms, orange vigilance
- Open-Meteo, forecast model used for our weather table
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ourika Valley open after the floods of 2 October 2026?
The press reported on 4 and 5 October that machines were clearing mud and stones and reopening the affected sections one by one, while some tracks near the riverbed were still cut. The situation changes from day to day with each storm. Write to us on WhatsApp the day before: we check the state of the road the same morning with our drivers in the valley.
Can I walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls this week?
Only on a morning without a storm warning, and with a local guide who knows the path. The path follows the stream, which is exactly where water rises first. If a storm is announced for the afternoon, we shorten the day, stay in the villages and the cooperatives, and keep away from the riverbed.
What happens to my booking if a storm is forecast on my date?
If the weather or the state of the river makes the valley unsafe on your date, we propose another date or refund you in full. We decide the same morning, after checking the alerts and the road, and we tell you before the pickup time.
When will the weather improve?
The forecast model we use, read on 7 October, shows storms possible at Setti Fatma each day until Saturday 10 October, then dry weather from Sunday 11 October. A forecast can change: the table on our weather page is refreshed every hour.
