A rare deluge of rainfall has transformed the arid Sahara Desert, creating blue lagoons among its iconic palm trees and sand dunes for the first time in decades. The storms, which swept through southeastern Morocco, brought more water to some of the driest regions of the world than they have seen in over 50 years.

The Moroccan government reported that the two-day rainfall in September exceeded yearly averages in several desert areas, including Tata, one of the hardest-hit regions. In Tagounite, a village located about 450 kilometers south of Rabat, 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain fell within a 24-hour period—an unprecedented amount for a region that typically sees less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain annually.

The sudden storm has left stunning images of water gushing through the sands, filling long-dry lakes, including Lake Iriqui, a lake bed between Zagora and Tata that had been dry for five decades. NASA satellite imagery captured the scene as the desert was transformed, with water rushing across the landscape.

In tourist-heavy desert communities, residents and visitors alike marveled at the sight, with 4×4 vehicles motoring through the flooded terrain. “It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve had this much rain in such a short space of time,” said Houssine Youabeb of Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology.

Meteorologists are classifying the storms as extratropical, suggesting that they may signal future changes in the region’s weather patterns. As the air retains more moisture, it is expected to increase evaporation rates and draw in more storms, potentially altering the local climate in the coming months and years.

The storms come after six consecutive years of drought that have significantly impacted Morocco. Farmers have been forced to abandon crops, while cities and villages have implemented water rationing. Although the recent rains have brought much-needed relief, with dam reservoirs refilling at record rates, the long-term effect on alleviating the drought remains uncertain.

While the rainfall is seen as a blessing for many, it has also caused devastation. More than 20 people have died in Morocco and Algeria as a result of the storms, and farmers’ harvests have been severely damaged. The Moroccan government has allocated emergency relief funds to support the affected regions, which were also struck by last year’s earthquake.

The recent storms may mark a turning point for the Sahara’s weather, potentially bringing more moisture to the region and replenishing the vast groundwater aquifers that desert communities rely on. However, the full impact of this historic event remains to be seen.