TORRENTIAL downpours have hit North Africa’s normally arid deserts and mountains, it was reported on Monday.

The days of downpours caused flooding that killed nearly two dozen people in Morocco and Algeria.

In Morocco, officials said the two days of storms surpassed historic averages, in some cases exceeding the annual average rainfall.

The downpours affected some of the regions that experienced a deadly earthquake one year ago.

Meteorologists had predicted that a rare deluge could strike North Africa’s Sahara Desert, where many areas receive less than an inch of rain a year.

Officials in Morocco said 18 people were killed in rural areas where infrastructure has historically been lacking, and 56 homes collapsed.

Nine people were missing. Drinking water and electrical infrastructure were damaged, along with major roads.

Rachid El Khalfi, Morocco’s Interior Ministry spokesperson, said the government was working to restore communication and access to flooded regions in the “exceptional situation” and urged people to use caution.

In neighbouring Algeria authorities said at least five died in the country’s desert provinces. Interior Minister Brahim Merad called the situation "catastrophic" on local television.

Algeria's APS news service said the government had sent thousands of civil protection and military officers to help with emergency response efforts and rescue families stuck in their homes.