Essaouira, an Atlantic port town 2 h 45 from Marrakech, is mild all year: 18-23 °C in the afternoon on average, summer and winter alike. Its signature is the wind: the trade winds blow hard much of the year, to the delight of kitesurfers.
A very mild ocean climate
The cool Canary Current tempers Essaouira: 22 °C in August when Marrakech passes 37 °C, 18 °C in January. Rain (300 mm a year) falls mostly from November to March. Summer is almost always dry, often with hazy mornings that clear during the day.
Wind, the key to Essaouira
Northerly trade winds often blow at 30-50 km/h, especially from April to September. Great for kitesurfing and windsurfing, much less so for lying on the beach. Our index factors in the wind: a windbreaker is almost always useful, even in midsummer.
The sea
The water stays cool: around 17 °C in winter and spring and 21-22 °C in late summer and early autumn, the best time to swim.
Planning your day
Allow 2 h 45 to 3 hours from Marrakech. Explore the medina and harbour in the morning, have grilled fish for lunch and walk the ramparts at sunset. On rainy days in Marrakech the coast often has different weather: check the forecast.
Average temperatures month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18° | 11° | 49 mm |
| February | 19° | 12° | 37 mm |
| March | 19° | 13° | 38 mm |
| April | 20° | 14° | 17 mm |
| May | 21° | 16° | 9 mm |
| June | 21° | 17° | 1 mm |
| July | 22° | 18° | 0 mm |
| August | 22° | 18° | 1 mm |
| September | 23° | 18° | 4 mm |
| October | 22° | 17° | 33 mm |
| November | 21° | 14° | 55 mm |
| December | 19° | 13° | 56 mm |
1991-2020 station averages.