Are there sandstorms in Morocco?

Sandstorms exist in Morocco, but I always temper the Hollywood image people arrive with. The dramatic towering wall of sand swallowing a caravan is rare; what is common in the desert south is dust and blowing sand stirred up by the wind, ranging from a light haze that mutes the horizon to a stinging blow that makes you wrap your face and wait it out. Over many years guiding in the Sahara I have seen perhaps a handful of really serious ones, and countless mild dusty afternoons.

The culprit is usually the chergui, a hot, dry wind that blows from the east and south-east off the Sahara, most often in spring and early summer. When it gets up, it lifts fine sand and dust, drops visibility, and coats everything in a gritty film. The locals know it is coming, the air takes on a particular yellow-grey quality and the heat feels different. This is exactly why the cheche, the long desert scarf, is not a costume but essential kit; wrapped over your nose and mouth it turns a miserable dusty hour into a manageable one.

For travellers the practical impact is usually small. A dusty episode might mean a hazy rather than crisp sunset over the dunes, a delayed camel trek until the wind eases, or keeping cameras and phones zipped away because blown sand and lenses do not mix. I carry spare scarves and we plan flexibly so that if the wind is up at midday, we simply shift the dune activity to the calmer evening. A genuine storm severe enough to halt everything is uncommon and short-lived when it does hit.

My advice: do not let the fear of sandstorms shape your trip, but do come prepared for dust. Bring or buy a scarf, pack a small case or bag for your camera, wear sunglasses to keep grit out of your eyes, and trust your guide to read the wind. Handled right, even a dusty desert day has its own moody beauty, and the clear days that bracket it are when the Sahara looks its most spectacular.