Winter & The Cold in Morocco

Blog Summary:

• Rabat gets colder than you think
• Bring some sweatshirts, sweaters, and thicker socks
• Bring water-worthy shoes and a raincoat
• In the U.S. (East Coast & Midwest), the cold is fast and hard but in Morocco the cold is calmer but malignant
• Pack warm clothes for the desert
• Still prepare for heat as that climate will be more of your experience in the fall semester but do not neglect your autumn wardrobe when packing.

During my fall semester in Rabat, I was colder than I would have expected considering what I knew about Morocco before arriving (which admittedly was not much). For most of the semester I was sweating like anyone would be dressing a little more modestly in a desert country; however, about 75% of the way through the semester I was suddenly cold and wet. The temperature though was not as cold as I am used to at home (Virginia) so I was fine wearing a sweatshirt whilst many Moroccan locals wore puffer jackets. The main things that got to me during this colder time were the lack of clothes I brought for this temperature, my lack of proper raingear, and the fact that even the insides of buildings are cold so you can never really escape the chill, especially at night or early in the morning.

I would recommend bringing several sweatshirts and sweaters for this colder time along with some water-worthy shoes and a rain jacket. I recommend the shoes and jacket specifically because Morocco does not feel built for rain, as puddles easily form and take a while to go away, and a raincoat is better in the crowded medina as opposed to an umbrella that is hard to maneuver.

To keep the constant chill at bay, I would recommend some fuzzy socks or similar slippers to wear around the house along with some thicker socks to wear with your everyday shoes. Another jacket layer and thicker pants can also do wonders. The extra clothes might feel silly at first considering how normal the temperature feels compared to East Coast and Midwest temperatures. In the U.S., central heating is a lot more common, so you spend most of your time in a warm building. As such the cold doesn’t build up as much over time like it does in Morocco, where you feel bone cold by the end of the day.

The fall semester Sahara trip also tested my limits with the cold. I wore all of the clothing I brought and somehow I was still cold during the night. Pack accordingly for that trip, PLEASE, because desert cold hits differently than you expect.

Overall, I would say definitely still prepare for heat as that climate will be more of your experience in the fall semester, but do not neglect your autumn wardrobe when packing, as it can make a huge difference in your daily comfort and overall experience.