Seasonal guide
Morocco in August 2027
August splits Morocco in two: a hot, quiet interior where you sightsee at dawn and dusk, and an Atlantic coast at its summer best, with sea breezes, surf and long evenings, busy with European and Moroccan families on holiday.
Sea or furnace
August makes two Moroccos
August is one of the two hottest months. Marrakech averages about 37°C by day and Fes about 36°C, with heat waves that pass 40°C. The pre-Saharan south and the dunes are hotter still.
The Atlantic coast is the other Morocco. Essaouira averages about 24°C, cooled by the steady summer trade wind; Agadir, Rabat and Tangier sit in the high twenties. It is peak season there, so the best coastal riads and hotels go early.
The way to do August well is to lean on the coast: a couple of early-start days in Marrakech with a pool to retreat to at midday, a cooler day in the High Atlas, then the sea.
The heat split
August, place by place
Blue is the sea side: the trade wind keeps Essaouira near 24°C while Marrakech, three hours inland, sits in the high thirties. The further south and east you go, the hotter it gets.
- EssaouiraEssaouira: about 19°C at night to 24°C by day24°
- AgadirAgadir: about 19°C at night to 27°C by day27°
- TangierTangier: about 20°C at night to 28°C by day28°
- RabatRabat: about 18°C at night to 28°C by day28°
- ChefchaouenChefchaouen: about 18°C at night to 30°C by day30°
- IfraneIfrane: about 15°C at night to 31°C by day31°
- FesFes: about 20°C at night to 36°C by day36°
- MarrakechMarrakech: about 21°C at night to 37°C by day37°
- OuarzazateOuarzazate: about 23°C at night to 39°C by day39°
- MerzougaMerzouga: about 27°C at night to 41°C by day41°
Typical averages
August weather by region
| Where | By day | At night | Sea | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essaouira | 24°C | 19°C | About 20°C | The coolest city in Morocco in August. The trade wind blows most afternoons: good for kitesurfing, less so for lying still on the sand. |
| Agadir and Taghazout | 27°C | 19°C | About 21°C | Sunny and settled, with a long sandy bay. Smaller summer swells at Taghazout suit beginners. |
| Tangier and the north | 28°C | 20°C | About 22°C | Peak summer on the Mediterranean side; Chefchaouen, in the hills, is warm by day and fresh at night. |
| Marrakech | 37°C | 21°C | – | Dry, fierce heat. See the medina before 10 and after 6, and keep the middle of the day for the pool or the hammam. |
| Fes | 36°C | 20°C | – | Very hot, but the covered lanes of the old medina give shade. Quiet for visitors. |
| High Atlas | Cooler with height | Fresh nights | – | The summer escape inland. Trails above Imlil stay walkable with an early start; afternoon storms can build over the peaks. |
Rounded long-term monthly averages, checked against published climate normals (Wikipedia city climate tables); heat waves run hotter, especially inland.
Where August is best
The Atlantic coast in summer
From Asilah in the north to Taghazout in the south, the coast is where Morocco spends its summer: long sandy bays, small surf, grilled fish at the port and evening walks along the corniche. It is busy, so the good rooms go first.
Pictured: Taghazout’s surf beach and hillside village, illustrative.
Plan around the heat
What to do in August
The Atlantic coast
Essaouira, Oualidia, Agadir and Asilah at their summer best: swimming, long beach walks, grilled fish at the port.
Learn to surf at Taghazout
Summer swells are smaller and kinder. Water about 21°C; most people wear a light wetsuit.
Kitesurf in Essaouira
The afternoon trade wind is the reason Essaouira has kite and windsurf schools on the bay.
Walk in the High Atlas
Above Imlil the air is cooler. Start at first light and be down before the afternoon heat and storms.
Oysters at Oualidia
A calm lagoon north of Essaouira, known for its oyster beds and quiet water for kayaks.
Marrakech at dawn and dusk
Gardens and palaces as they open, the hammam at midday, the square and a rooftop at night.
What to leave for the autumn
A night in the Sahara
Merzouga averages about 41°C by day and stays near 27°C at night. We advise saving the dunes for October to April.
Long midday medina walks
Marrakech and Fes are too hot for hours on foot after mid-morning. Split the day.
The pre-Saharan valleys at noon
Ait Benhaddou, the Draa and Ouarzazate are best seen at sunrise in August, or left for the autumn.
Light layers, one warm one
What to pack for August
Everywhere
- · Loose, light clothes that cover shoulders and knees
- · High-SPF sunscreen and a wide hat
- · A refillable insulated water bottle
- · Rehydration salts
- · Sandals and light walking shoes
For the coast
- · A windproof layer for Essaouira evenings
- · Swimsuit and a rash vest
- · A light wetsuit if you surf (schools rent them)
- · A cover-up for cafés off the beach
Pictured: Agadir’s bay below the hilltop kasbah, illustrative.
Dates are set locally
August festivals and moussems
Usually late summer, dates set locally
Moussem of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
A pilgrimage and gathering at the hill town above Volubilis, near Meknes. Dates are announced locally each year.
All summer
The coast on holiday
Seaside towns fill with Moroccan families: evening promenades, music on the corniche, fish grilled on the port.
September, not August
Tanjazz, Tangier
Often listed for August, but Tangier's jazz festival is held in September. Worth a later trip.
Seven days, one way to the sea
A sample August week
Day 1
Arrive in Marrakech
Land in the evening, when the heat eases. A riad with a pool, dinner on a roof above the medina.
Day 2
Marrakech, early and late
Bahia Palace and the souks before 10, the hammam at midday, Jemaa el-Fnaa after dark.
Day 3
The High Atlas
Up to Imlil for cooler air: a walk through the walnut terraces and lunch in a village house.
Day 4
To Essaouira
About three hours west to the sea. The ramparts, the port and the first sea breeze.
Day 5
Essaouira
A kitesurf or windsurf lesson, grilled sardines at the port, sunset from the Skala.
Day 6
Down the coast to Taghazout
About three hours south past the argan country. A surf lesson in the late afternoon.
Day 7
Agadir and home
A morning on the beach, then Agadir airport, or back to Marrakech, about three hours.
Morocco in August: your questions
Is August a good time to visit Morocco?
For the coast, yes: Essaouira averages about 24°C and Agadir about 27°C, and it is their peak season. Inland it is very hot (Marrakech about 37°C by day), so plan early starts, a pool and air conditioning. We advise leaving the Sahara for October to April.
How hot is Marrakech in August?
Daytime highs average about 37°C, with nights around 21°C, and heat waves can push past 40°C. The heat is dry. See the medina before 10 in the morning and after 6 in the evening.
Does it rain in Morocco in August?
Hardly at all. August is one of the driest months across the country. The exception is the High Atlas, where afternoon thunderstorms sometimes build over the peaks.
Is the coast crowded in August?
Yes. August is peak season in Essaouira, Agadir, Oualidia, Asilah and the north, with European school holidays and Moroccan families on holiday. Book coastal stays early.
Can I visit the Sahara in August?
We advise against it. Merzouga averages about 41°C by day and stays near 27°C at night, and the sand is hotter than the air. The dunes are at their best from October to April.
What should I pack for Morocco in August?
Loose, light clothes that cover shoulders and knees, high-SPF sunscreen, a wide hat, an insulated water bottle and rehydration salts, plus a windproof layer for Essaouira evenings.
Is August good for surfing in Morocco?
Yes for beginners. Summer swells at Taghazout and around Essaouira are smaller and more forgiving. The sea is about 20-21°C, so most surfers wear a light wetsuit; schools rent them.
Are there festivals in August?
The moussem of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun near Meknes is usually in late summer, with dates set locally, and seaside towns host summer music and evening events. Tanjazz in Tangier is in September, not August.
The sea, the mountains, and Marrakech at dawn.
المغربⵜⴰⴳⵍⴷⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱThe Kingdom of Morocco