The Reservoirs Are Full, The Runners Are Ready, and The Train is Digging

If you are landing in Casablanca today, you might see something that hasn’t happened in seven years: Mud. Morocco in January 2026 has just witnessed a miracle. The skies opened up in late 2025 and early January, effectively breaking the catastrophic drought that has choked the country for nearly a decade.

You are visiting a nation that is breathing a collective sigh of relief. The dams are full, the hammams are heating up, and the runners are taking over the Red City this Sunday.

The “Miracle” Rain: The Drought is (Mostly) Over

This is the best news in North Africa.

• The Data: The Oued Al Makhazine dam (the largest in the north) hit 100% capacity this week. The Al Massira dam (which was terrifyingly low at 5%) is finally refilling.
• The valleys are shockingly green. If you drive to the Ouzoud Waterfalls, they aren’t just trickling; they are roaring. The locals are euphoric. The “Hamdullah” (Thanks to God) you hear in the streets has a different weight to it right now.
• The Hammams: The government previously ordered hammams to close 3 days a week to save water. With the dams full, these restrictions are being quietly ignored or officially lifted in the North.
• The Warning: Don’t be wasteful. The infrastructure is still fragile, and one wet winter doesn’t fix a decade of thirsty aquifers. Also, expect mudslides in the High Atlas roads (Tizi n’Tichka pass) because the dry earth can’t absorb the water fast enough.

The Pulse: Marrakech Marathon (This Sunday)

If you are in Marrakech, you cannot escape the barricades. The 36th Marrakech International Marathon runs on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

• The Impact: The Menara Gardens and the Palmeraie roads will be closed from 6 AM.
• The Move: If you aren’t running, do not try to take a taxi to the airport on Sunday morning. It will be gridlock. Leave tonight or book a Grand Taxi that knows the back roads.
• The Spectacle: Go to the finish line on Avenue de la Menara. Watching thousands of runners framed by the snow-capped Atlas Mountains (freshly dusted with white) is a core memory.

The Construction Site: Casablanca

If you are taking the train, read this.

• The Project: Morocco is aggressively building the High-Speed Rail (TGV) extension from Kenitra to Marrakech (targeting the 2030 World Cup).
• The Chaos: The rail corridor between Casablanca Voyageurs and Kenitra is a heavy construction zone.
• The Delay: Trains are frequently delayed due to track works. The pristine “Al Boraq” punctuality is suffering a bit on the commuter legs. Allow extra buffer time if you are catching a flight out of CMN.

The Recovery: The High Atlas

It has been over two years since the September 2023 earthquake.

• The Status: The “Tent Cities” are shrinking, but they haven’t vanished. Many villagers are still rebuilding stone by stone.
• The Ethics: Go. Tourism is their lifeline. The roads to Imlil and Ouirgane are open.
• The Experience: The guesthouses (gîtes) are back. The hiking trails are clear. The best way to help is to hire a local guide and buy walnuts from the roadside cooperative. They don’t want pity; they want business.

Morocco in January 2026 is green, muddy, and optimistic. The water is back, the runners are here, and the trains are expanding.