How does Morocco’s Mediterranean climate differ between the coast and the interior?

Morocco’s Mediterranean climate is significantly moderated by the sea along the coast, whereas the interior experiences more extreme temperature fluctuations.1

In coastal lowlands, cool onshore breezes keep average daily summer temperatures between 64 and 82 °F (18 to 28 °C), and winter temperatures remain mild, ranging from 46 to 63 °F (8 to 17 °C). Conversely, interior regions face much harsher conditions; summer daily highs frequently exceed 95 °F (35 °C), and winter temperatures can drop significantly, occasionally falling below the freezing point.1

Additionally, the interior is subject to the sharqī (chergui), a hot, dusty wind from the Sahara that can cause temperatures to spike to 105 °F (41 °C) even in coastal areas. Furthermore, Morocco’s mountains create a rain shadow effect; while coastal and mountainous areas receive varying levels of precipitation, the regions directly east of the mountains experience an abrupt transition into desert conditions.12