In a rare twist of nature, the Sahara Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, found itself host to shimmering lakes after heavy rains this fall. A powerful extratropical storm swept through the region in early September 2024, unleashing torrential downpours across Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. These rains filled dry lake beds that had been barren for decades—most notably in Morocco’s Iriqui National Park and the Sebkha el Melah ephemeral salt lake in central Algeria, according to images captured by NASA.

The sight of palm trees reflected in blue lagoons between the sand dunes stunned locals and tourists alike. In southeastern Morocco, areas that usually receive less than 250 millimeters of rain annually were suddenly drenched with more than 100 millimeters in just 24 hours. This deluge caused a remarkable transformation, turning typically dry landscapes into temporary oases of water and vegetation.

While these rains brought some much-needed relief to a region ravaged by years of drought, they also had a tragic side. Flash floods swept through villages, leaving destruction in their wake and claiming lives in both Morocco and Algeria, as reported by the Associated Press. However, the rains may help replenish vital groundwater reserves that are essential for sustaining life in desert communities. Despite this rare bounty, it’s unclear how long-lasting the effects will be, especially with the looming impacts of climate change potentially altering weather patterns in the Sahara for years to come.

This unusual event underscores the delicate balance of nature in one of the world’s most inhospitable regions. It’s a fleeting glimpse into what the Sahara might have looked like millennia ago during the African Humid Period, when it was home to ancient lakes and rivers.

“We’re proposing a third option: that extreme rain events, like the one in September in the northwestern Sahara, might have been more frequent in the past,” said Armon. “Given how long it takes lakes to dry up, these events could have been common enough to keep lakes partially filled over long periods—even years or decades—without frequent rainfall.”

But for now, the desert’s new lakes are a brief, shimmering reminder of water’s power in shaping even the most arid of landscapes.