Fez Weather Guide: Climate Trends and Seasonal Insights

Fez experiences a Mediterranean climate with significant continental influences, largely due to its inland location nestled between the Rif Mountains to the north and the Middle Atlas to the south. This geography creates a climate of extremes, where baking summer heat can be followed by surprisingly chilly, damp winters.

Daily and Seasonal Climate Rhythms

In Fez, the daily temperature range is often as dramatic as the seasonal shifts. Regardless of the time of year, mornings typically start crisp and cool. As the sun climbs, the dry air heats rapidly, only to drop sharply again once the sun dips behind the high walls of the medina.

• Spring (March–May): Widely considered the most pleasant time, spring brings blooming landscapes and moderate temperatures (averaging 20°C to 26°C). However, March is statistically one of the wettest months, often featuring sudden afternoon cloudbursts.
• Summer (June–August): Fez becomes a kiln during the summer. Average highs sit around 36°C (97°F), but heat waves frequently push temperatures above 40°C (104°F). The air is incredibly dry, and rain is virtually non-existent.
• Autumn (September–November): Similar to spring, autumn offers a retreat from the heat. September remains warm, but by November, the first significant rains arrive, signaling the transition to the cooler, wetter season.
• Winter (December–February): Winters are mild during the day (16°C–18°C) but can feel biting at night, with temperatures regularly dropping to 4°C–6°C. While snow is rare in the city center, frost is possible, and the dampness can make the cold feel more penetrative.

The Medina Microclimate

The Fes el Bali (the old medina) creates its own microclimate. The narrow, high-walled alleyways act as natural cooling vents in the summer, providing deep shade and trapping cooler air at the street level. Conversely, in winter, these same alleys block the warming sunlight, making the interior of the medina feel several degrees colder than the modern, open-spaced Ville Nouvelle.

The Chergui Phenomenon

A defining feature of the Fez climate is the Chergui (or Sharqi). This is a hot, dry, and often dusty wind that originates in the Sahara Desert and blows from the east or southeast. When the Chergui arrives—most commonly in late spring or summer—it can cause temperatures to spike by 10°C or more in a single day, dropping humidity to near 0%. During a Chergui event, the air feels