Tarifa, a town on the southern tip of Spain, has a peculiar climate,
Wind gusts of 80 kph (50 mph) or more are not uncommon, and can also occur in summer. Sometimes it can even exceed 100 kph (60 mph).
. Sometimes, the wind is so strong that it can lift the sand.
Because of the waves generated by the wind, this part of the coast of Andalusia is particularly appreciated by surfers and kitesurfers.
, the southernmost point of Europe, a small island located about 200 meters (650 feet) away from the mainland, to which it is connected by a causeway. The pier of
is particularly windy. To the south, you can see the coast of Morocco, which is just 15 km (9 mi) away. In the strait that separates Europe from Africa (Strait of Gibraltar), you can watch whales and dolphins.
of the coldest months (January and February) is 13 °C (55.5 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is 22.8 °C (73 °F).
amounts to 630 millimeters (25 inches) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, in fact, it is more abundant from October to February, when it's equal to or higher than 75 mm (3 in) per month (and during some years, it can be plentiful), while it becomes very rare in summer.
, from December to February, is a very mild season, characterized by sunny periods alternating with periods of bad weather, with wind and rain. During some years, the rains can be heavy or frequent.
For its southern location and with the sea on two sides, Tarifa is quite sheltered from the cold. On the coldest days of the year, the temperature typically drops to 3/4 °C (37/39 °F).
The cold record is -3 °C (27 °F), and it has been set on January 28, 2005. Other low values were -2 °C (28.5 °F) in February 1954, 0 °C (32 °F) in February 1956, and 0.5 °C (33 °F) in January 1987.
Snow in Tarifa is extremely rare. Snow fell only in February 1954 and early March 1993.
, from March to mid-June, is mild, and gradually becomes less rainy and more sunny. However, there may still be periods of bad weather, especially in March and April. In periods of good weather, the east wind, moderate or strong, cools down the air.
, from mid-June to mid-September, is mild and sunny, with a bit of haze, and it's definitely not as warm as in southern Spain. Typically, daytime temperatures are not very high, remaining around 25 °C (77 °F). The air is humid and the east wind steadily blows: at certain times, it can be moderate, but at other times, it can be very strong for weeks. There may be cooler days, with highs about 20/22 °C (68/72 °F) even in July and August.
The highest records are around 35/37 °C (95/99 °F), but heat waves from Africa occur rarely. On the warmest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 28/30 °C (82/86 °F).
, from mid-September to November, is mild, with the rains becoming gradually more frequent. In November, but sometimes also in October, we are well into autumn, with a mild climate, but also cloudy and rainy.
in Tarifa is very good in late spring and summer, from May to September, when clear skies prevail (though less than in the rest of Andalusia, since a bit of mist or some cloud banks can sometimes form), while it is acceptable in autumn and winter, when, in addition to sunny periods, cloudy and rainy periods are possible.
in Tarifa (we are at the border between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea) remains cool even in summer, in fact, it reaches a maximum of 22/23 °C (72/73 °F) from July to September.
for a beach holiday in Tarifa is the summer, from June to mid-September. It is worth while to recall that in periods when the wind is stronger, sunbathing on the beach may be unpleasant. It's better to bring a sweatshirt and a scarf (and maybe a windbreaker) for chilly and windy evenings.
such as Seville and Córdoba, you can choose April, May and October, since the summer in that area is very hot.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.8 °C, with a minimum of
10.3 °C and a maximum of
15.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.3 °C in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
20.9 °C in January 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.9 °C, with a minimum of
10.4 °C and a maximum of
15.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.7 °C in February 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
20.7 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.3 °C, with a minimum of
12 °C and a maximum of
16.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
1.2 °C in March 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
24.8 °C in March 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.4 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
17.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
4.3 °C in April 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
30.5 °C in April 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.6 °C, with a minimum of
15 °C and a maximum of
20.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7.4 °C in May 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
31.9 °C in May 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.2 °C, with a minimum of
17.7 °C and a maximum of
22.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12 °C in June 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
34.9 °C in June 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only
7 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22 °C, with a minimum of
19.4 °C and a maximum of
24.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
11.9 °C in July 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
34.3 °C in July 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only
2 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
22.8 °C, with a minimum of
20.2 °C and a maximum of
25.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
14.2 °C in August 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
35.4 °C in August 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
4 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.3 °C, with a minimum of
18.9 °C and a maximum of
23.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
11.1 °C in September 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
18 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19 °C, with a minimum of
16.7 °C and a maximum of
21.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9 °C in October 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
31.8 °C in October 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.8 °C, with a minimum of
13.3 °C and a maximum of
18.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
2.4 °C in November 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
27.1 °C in November 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.8 °C, with a minimum of
11.5 °C and a maximum of
16.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
1 °C in December 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
21 °C in December 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.