Oukaïmeden weather in January

January in Oukaïmeden: cold, dry, with clean air — a good time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Oukaïmeden🇲🇦 Morocco · Maghreb · Ski61
  1. 61Jan
  2. 66Feb
  3. 50Mar
  4. 33Apr
  5. 20May
  6. 16Jun
  7. 18Jul
  8. 14Aug
  9. 13Sep
  10. 23Oct
  11. 39Nov
  12. 56Dec

#2 of 12 months in Oukaïmeden · #937 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 61/100 (tier C)

Days
8°C
Nights
-4°C
Wet days
3
Sun
9.2 h
Humidity
54%
Daylight
10 h
Oukaïmeden, Morocco
Photo: ANASS ELOUIHI · Pexels

Traveller notes on Oukaïmeden in January

Oukaimeden-forum threads on January skiing are candid that snow cover is usually present but never truly guaranteed here, neither of the two ski areas fully reliable from one January to the next. Posters describe the resort as an easy day trip from Marrakech, roughly an hour or so by taxi, worth it even for non-skiers purely for the High Atlas views from the chairlift. Rental gear is available on site but posters consistently call it basic and not especially cheap, worth budgeting for. Nights at this elevation drop well below freezing regardless of the daytime, real winter layers standing advice even on a sunny-looking morning. A couple of simple places to eat and two small hotels are the full extent of overnight options, so most visitors are day-trippers. The record: 7.9C days feeling like 4C, -3.7C nights, a notably high 5.8cm of fresh snowfall and 54 percent humidity.
OukaimedenJanuaryRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Oukaïmeden

Oukaimeden-forum threads and reviews on a March visit call this genuinely within the core skiing window, posters describing the season as typically running from late December through March depending on conditions. Regulars call the setup basic, a single chair lift serving the mountain alongside several drag lifts, though the surrounding valley views are considered genuinely rewarding regardless of facilities. Posters call the pistes themselves not especially difficult, though narrow sections with rocks at the edges and icy patches are a real hazard worth respecting. Regulars call the short drive from Marrakech, roughly fifty kilometers, a genuine advantage for a single-day outing. Posters recommend checking current snow conditions directly before a March trip, coverage here varying considerably by year this late in the season. The record: 10.1C days feeling like 9C, -1.7C nights, 66mm across over 10 days and 71 percent humidity.
OukaimedenMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Oukaimeden-forum threads on a summer visit confirm the resort stays genuinely open outside the winter months, the azibs used by shepherds through the warmer months and the rock engravings and views toward Marrakech drawing hikers rather than skiers. Posters call the elevation the real reason to come up in July, conditions noticeably milder than the punishing heat gripping Marrakech itself the same afternoon. Regulars describe days here as comfortably warm rather than intense, evenings turning genuinely cool once the sun drops behind the surrounding peaks. Posters recommend a proper layer for the evening regardless of how warm the climb up felt. Regulars call July and August the reliably settled stretch, little real chance of a system disrupting a day trip or overnight stay. Posters call the escape from the city heat the genuine draw of a summer trip up here. The record: 25.5C days feeling like 24C, 11.9C nights, a low 35 percent humidity and 12.7 hours of sun.
OukaimedenJulyRegular · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Oukaimeden-forum threads on visiting outside the winter season describe the area as genuinely worthwhile for trekking, local shepherds still using the stone azibs scattered across the high pastures through the warmer months. Posters call September conditions comfortable for outdoor activity by day, a real relief from the intensity down in Marrakech given the roughly 2,650 meter elevation. Regulars describe evenings as turning noticeably cooler once the sun drops, a proper layer standing advice regardless of how mild the afternoon felt. A real shower is possible on any given day, though regulars call it infrequent enough not to derail most day trips from the city. Posters recommend the surrounding trails as genuinely underrated, well beyond the area's better-known winter identity. Regulars call the drive up from Marrakech itself a scenic part of the day. The record: 20.4C days feeling like 19C, 8C nights, a low 52 percent humidity and 10.7 hours of sun.
OukaimedenSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Morocco forum threads describe August as uncomfortably hot in Marrakech and the lowlands, which is exactly why posters recommend Oukaïmeden - Africa's highest ski resort at 2650m - as a genuine escape from that heat, even in high summer with no snow on the ground. Days at altitude stay noticeably cooler than the plains below, and nights can turn genuinely cold, something posters said catches people off guard who only packed for lowland Morocco heat. In summer the resort area is used by transhumance shepherds rather than skiers, with rock engravings, mountain views toward Marrakech, and access to Tizi n'Addi among the draws for a day trip up from the city.
HighAtlasMoroccoRegular · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Oukaïmeden's card on the map.

Oukaïmeden climate normals — January

Daytime high8°C / 46°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low-4°C / 25°F
Feels like (high)4°C / 39°F
Rainfall16 mm / 0.6 in☀️ dry
Rainy days3 days
Humidity54%🍃 comfortable
Dew point-8°C / 17°F
Sunshine9.2 h/day
Daylight10.4 h
Wind8 km/h / 5 mph
Snowfall5.8 cm / 2.3 in
Air quality (US AQI)32🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Oukaïmeden in January

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsAtlas ski season, Ramadan, Mid-year holiday in Morocco(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Oukaïmeden's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Best weatherOukaïmeden's weather peaks December–February.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Oukaïmeden in January

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Atlas ski season

    1 Jan – 10 Mar · usuallyCrowded

    Africa's highest lift runs when there is cover, and January into February is when there usually is. Marrakech drives up at weekends to see snow rather than to ski, so the road is the bottleneck. Source ↗

  • Holiday

    Ramadan

    25 Jan – 25 Mar · usuallyClosures

    The handful of places to eat up here close in daylight and the day-trip traffic from Marrakech thins right out. If you are staying, arrange food with your lodge before you come up. Source ↗

  • Hazard

    Snow on the mountain road

    1 Dec – 15 Mar · usuallyWinter road closuresClosures

    The single road up from Marrakech can ice over or close after a heavy fall, and chains or a 4x4 are expected when it does. A snowy weekend brings the city up the hill at the same time, so leave early and be ready to turn back. Source ↗

What's on around the world in January →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Oukaïmeden — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Oukaïmeden?

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Oukaïmeden in January — FAQ

Is January a good time to visit Oukaïmeden?
January in Oukaïmeden: cold, dry, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Oukaïmeden on SeasonMap's comfort score (61/100).
What is the weather like in Oukaïmeden in January?
In January, Oukaïmeden averages a daily high of 7.9°C and a low of -3.7°C, with about 16.2 mm of rain over roughly 3 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Oukaïmeden in January?
Oukaïmeden has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 32 in January.
Does it snow in Oukaïmeden in January?
Oukaïmeden sees roughly 5.8 cm of snowfall in January.

Within 300 km: Taghazout's The points work around 1 Oct – 15 Apr, and Marrakesh's Marrakech Marathon around 24 Jan – 2 Feb.