Tarifa has two prevailing winds: the strong and warm Levante, blowing day and night, and the colder Poniente blowing strongest in the afternoon. The reason why Tarifa's wind is so strong and well channelled is mainly thanks to the tunnel effect that the Straits of Gibraltar provide. This effect accelerates the wind considerably.

Wind and weather forecast Tarifa, Spain

Check the forecasts for Tarifa, Spain for the next days. Wind forecast and the averages of the last years.

Spain - Tarifa    Powered by WINDGURU  Fr 05. Sa 06. Sa 06. Sa 06. Sa 06. Su 07. Su 07. Su 07. Su 07. Mo 08. Mo 08. Mo 08. Mo 08. 20h 11h 14h 17h 20h 11h 14h 17h 20h 11h 14h 17h 20h Modif. wind (Bft) 4 3 4 5 4 1 2 2 1 6 7 6 6 Wind direction Wave (m) 0.8 0.7 0.8 1 1.1 1 1 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.8 1 Wave period (s) 4 5 3 4 10 10 10 10 10 8 8 - 4 Wave direction - Temperature (°C) 23 23 25 24 23 22 24 24 23 24 24 24 23 Cloud cover (%) - 20 16 31 40 90 72 47 41 8 6 10 18 Rain (mm/3h) -                          Lat: 36, Lon: -5.65, Timezone: CEST (UTC+2) 08:01 - 20:39  [Archive]

Summer: Warm and dry almost every day

In the summer the weather is warm and sunny every day. The strong winds can make the average temperature in Tarifa drop considerably, if compared to other places in Spain. Don't forget your jumper even in summer; at night temperatures tend to drop and it may even be a bit chilly.

Winter: From T-shirts to snow

In the winter it rains very often. Temperatures drop drastically at night, although some days can surprise you with spectacular sunshine and great temperatures. At night, the cold due to the high level of humidity can be very intense and penetrating. Even though the actual temperature is not that low, the use of thick winter jackets and anoraks is a must; you will be surprised by the cold!

Levante: Flat waters and stormy winds from the east

The south-easterly Levante is a warm wind that blows day and night. When the Levante is stronger, it forms cumulus clouds on the mountains to the east of Tarifa. It usually takes one windy day to pick up and blow steadily. It tends to last for some days and ends abruptly. The Levante winds in Tarifa are slightly offshore and therefore bring with them a pretty flat and choppy sea. On very strong Levante days (8 Beauforts or more), surfers head off for Caños de Meca. There you will find very good waves, and a bit less wind.

Poniente: Nice waves and big sails

In summer the weaker Poniente winds from the west prevail. These blow from the Atlantic and form waves, mostly during the winter. On hot and sunny days the thermal effect of the coast makes the Poniente, mainly in the bay of Valdevaqueros, stronger. It blows strongest between approx. 15:00 to 18:00 giving rise to colder temperatures. It also stops very suddenly. If you intend to go surfing after 18:00 you may find that the wind has died down completely and you might have to opt for going for a jog instead.

Southerly: The winter wind which may bring rain

Wind from the south blows full onshore and creates high waves. If you don't want to get washed ashore every time, carry your equipment up to Punta Paloma. The southerly wind often blows in intervals of about half an hour alternating with incoming rain fronts. As there is no other wind at the same time, you have to get up early as it will drop around 14:00.