Essaouira Weather Guide: The Wind City’s Year-Round Climate

The Rhythm of the Atlantic

Essaouira, often called the "Wind City of Africa," possesses a climate that stands in stark contrast to the sweltering heat found in inland Morocco. While Marrakesh may reach blistering temperatures, Essaouira remains tempered by the cool Canary Current. This oceanic influence creates a Mediterranean-Oceanic microclimate characterized by remarkable stability; temperatures rarely soar above 80°F (27°C) or drop below 50°F (10°C).

Daily Atmospheric Patterns

The city’s weather follows a predictable daily choreography. Mornings are frequently veiled in a thick coastal mist or fog, known locally as la brume. This moisture provides a refreshing dampness to the air before the sun clears the skies by midday.

In the afternoon, the defining feature of Essaouira arrives: the Alizé. These northeast trade winds pick up pace after lunch, peaking in the late afternoon. While they provide a natural air-conditioning system for the medina, they can also whip up sand on the beach and create a significant wind-chill factor, making the "real feel" temperature significantly cooler than the mercury suggests.

Seasonal Evolution

Summer (June – August)

Unlike the rest of Morocco, summer is not a time of intense heat but of intense wind. This is the peak season for the Alizé, which blows most consistently during these months.

• Atmosphere: Bright and clear with high UV levels, though the air stays cool.
• Sea Temperature: Remarkably brisk, averaging 68°F (20°C). Swimming is more of a bracing dip than a warm soak.

Autumn (September – October)

Many locals consider this the "Golden Season." The trade winds lose their ferocious edge, turning into gentle breezes.

• Experience: The ocean reaches its highest temperature of the year (around 72°F/22°C), and the beach becomes truly accessible for sunbathing without the blast of sand.
• Transition: Late October brings the first occasional rains, signaling the shift away from the arid summer.

Winter (November – February)

Winter in Essaouira is mild but damp. It is the wettest period of the year, though "wet" is relative—rain usually arrives in short, intense bursts followed by clear blue skies.

• Climate: Daytime highs hover around 65°F (18°C), but high humidity and the Atlantic breeze can make the nights feel quite biting indoors.
• Phenomena: This is the season for wave surfers rather than windsurfers, as the Atlantic swells become more powerful and the winds more erratic.

Spring (March – May)

Spring is a season of flux. The winds begin to regain their strength, and the flora in the surrounding Argan forests bursts into life.

• Microclimates: You may experience the Chergui, a hot, dry wind from the Sahara that occasionally overcomes the sea breeze, causing temperatures to spike briefly into the 80s or 90s.

Local Adaptations and "Feel"

The architecture of Essaouira is a direct response to its climate. The medina's narrower streets are designed to fragment the wind, creating pockets of calm even when a gale is blowing at the port. You will notice locals often wearing the djellaba—a long, hooded robe; its thick wool or cotton provides essential protection against both the pervasive dampness of the morning mist and the abrasive evening winds.

To the traveler, Essaouira "feels" like a place of constant movement. It is a sensory experience of salt spray on the lips, the persistent cry of seagulls, and a freshness in the air that is rare on the African continent. Even on a sunny day, the combination of high humidity and wind means you should expect to feel cooler than the forecast indicates, especially as soon as the sun dips below the ramparts.