Rare rain floods Sahara Desert, dry lake filled for first time in 50 years

A rare downpour has transformed the Sahara desert, one of the world's most dry and arid regions, into a scene of blue lagoons nestled between palm trees and sand dunes.

The unexpected rain left stunning images of water coursing through the Saharan sands, surrounding ancient castles and desert flora. Satellite imagery captured the remarkable filling of Lake Iriqui, a famous lake bed that had been dry for half a century.

Palm trees are flooded in a lake caused by heavy rainfall in the desert town of Merzouga, near Rachidia, southeastern Morocco. (Photo: AP)

Southeastern Morocco typically sees little to no rain in late summer. However, in September, two days of rainfall exceeded the annual average in several areas that receive less than 250 millimetres of rain per year.

Tata, one of the hardest-hit regions, experienced unprecedented rainfall, with more than 100 millimetres recorded in a 24-hour period in the village of Tagounite, about 450 kilometres south of Rabat.

A view of lakes caused by heavy rainfall between sand dunes in the desert town of Merzouga, near Rachidia. (Photo: AP)

"It's been 30 to 50 years since we've seen this much rain in such a short time," said Houssine Youabeb from Morocco's General Directorate of Meteorology.

Meteorologists, referring to the event as an extratropical storm, suggested that this rainfall might alter the region's weather patterns in the coming months and years. As the air retains more moisture, increased evaporation could lead to more frequent storms, Youabeb explained.

Palm trees are reflected in a lake caused by heavy rainfall in the desert town of Merzouga. (Photo: AP)

After six consecutive years of drought that left farmers abandoning fields and communities rationing water, this rainfall may help replenish the underground aquifers crucial to life in these desert areas. Dammed reservoirs across the region reported record levels of refilling throughout September. Yet, the long-term impact on the drought remains uncertain.

A man walks through the sand dunes next to the lake caused by heavy rainfall. (Photo: AP)

The downpours also brought tragedy, leaving over 20 dead in Morocco and Algeria and devastating farmers' crops. In response, the Moroccan government has allocated emergency relief funds, especially for areas also affected by last year's earthquake.