AI-generatedTarifa at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 28°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 21.9°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,920 h
- Rain a year
- 556 mm
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 22 m
Climate in Tarifa
Tarifa has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 28 °C, while January is the coolest at 15 °C. With around 2,920 hours of sunshine a year, Tarifa is sunny; July is the sunniest month with 11.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: June – September
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 18°
- Midday, 13:00: about 21°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 22°
- Evening, 20:00: about 21°
- Night, 23:00: about 19°
08:2819:48
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 08:12–09:03 · evening 19:14–20:04
- Blue hour
- Morning 08:02–08:12 · evening 20:04–20:14
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Tarifa in October?
In October, Tarifa is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 20.3 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 60 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Tarifa.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 20 min08:28 – 19:48
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 5 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 20 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 50 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Madrid
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %52 %
- Seaweight 25 %47 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %67 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %76 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
Sea temperature in Tarifa
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 19.4 – 20.9 °C
Swimming season: Jul – Oct
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Tarifa ranges from 16.0 °C in March to 21.9 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from July to October.
From November to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 21.3 and 22.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 16.9° | 16.2° | 17.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 16.1° | 15.4° | 16.8° | cold |
| MarchMar | 16.0° | 15.4° | 16.6° | cold |
| AprilApr | 16.7° | 16.1° | 17.2° | cold |
| MayMay | 17.8° | 17.2° | 18.4° | fresh |
| JuneJun | 19.7° | 19.1° | 20.1° | fresh |
| JulyJul | 21.4° | 20.5° | 22.3° | refreshing |
| AugustAug | 21.9° | 21.3° | 22.6° | refreshing |
| SeptemberSep | 21.1° | 20.5° | 21.8° | refreshing |
| OctoberOct | 20.3° | 19.4° | 20.9° | refreshing |
| NovemberNov | 18.9° | 18.2° | 19.8° | fresh |
| DecemberDec | 17.8° | 17.0° | 18.6° | fresh |
Sunshine hours in Tarifa
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 7.0 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Tarifa, 62 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Tarifa
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 45 min
- Olive skin
- about 60 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Tarifa: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Tarifa has about 7 rainy days with 60 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Tarifa
How breezy and how cloudy Tarifa is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Tarifa typically peaks at 20 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 50 % of the sky over Tarifa: variable cloud, with about 7.0 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Tarifa
How often the day gets hot in Tarifa (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Tarifa has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 22 °C: some hot or muggy days. Single hot or muggy days are possible; a hat and water bottle are enough.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Tarifa
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 18°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open. Muggy on about 5 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (12°), the warmest in August (21°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from July to September; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from May to June and in October. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 60 days a year, mostly from July to September.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 22 | 15° | 12° | 16.9° | 5.7 h | 9 | 80 |
| FebruaryFeb | 27 | 16° | 12° | 16.1° | 6.6 h | 8 | 60 |
| MarchMar | 27 | 17° | 12° | 16.0° | 7.2 h | 9 | 74 |
| AprilApr | 32 | 19° | 14° | 16.7° | 8.3 h | 8 | 49 |
| MayMay | 53 | 21° | 16° | 17.8° | 9.4 h | 6 | 28 |
| JuneJun | 82 | 25° | 18° | 19.7° | 10.8 h | 1 | 6 |
| JulyJul | 91 | 27° | 20° | 21.4° | 11.2 h | 0 | 1 |
| AugustAug | 92 | 28° | 21° | 21.9° | 10.3 h | 1 | 2 |
| SeptemberSep | 88 | 25° | 20° | 21.1° | 8.4 h | 4 | 25 |
| OctoberOct | 58 | 22° | 18° | 20.3° | 7.0 h | 7 | 60 |
| NovemberNov | 30 | 18° | 14° | 18.9° | 5.8 h | 8 | 79 |
| DecemberDec | 22 | 16° | 13° | 17.8° | 5.1 h | 10 | 93 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
36.01° N, 5.61° W · 22 m · Europe/Madrid
Best time to visit Tarifa
The best time to visit Tarifa is from June to September. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from July to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, the weather is pleasant all year round. The wettest month is December with 93 mm of precipitation.
Tarifa through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Tarifa in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 17–21 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days in all
Tarifa in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 25–28 °C by day
- Sea 21 °C
- 11 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days in all
Tarifa in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 18–25 °C by day
- Sea 20 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days in all
Tarifa in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 15–16 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 26 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Tarifa for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Tarifa
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Tarifa: score 92 against 58. In August, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 2 °C warmer in August. August has 6 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 58 | 92better |
| Day high | 22° | 28° |
| Night low | 18° | 21° |
| Sea | 20.3° | 21.9° |
| Sunshine | 7.0 h | 10.3 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 7 | 1better |
| Rainfall | 60 mm | 2 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 5better | 20 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Jul – Sep
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
All year
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Tarifa month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
22January15° · Sea 17° · 6 h
In January, Tarifa is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in January27February16° · Sea 16° · 7 h
In February, Tarifa is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 60 mm. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in February27March17° · Sea 16° · 7 h
In March, Tarifa is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 74 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in March32April19° · Sea 17° · 8 h
In April, Tarifa is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 16.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 49 mm. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in April53May21° · Sea 18° · 9 h
In May, Tarifa is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 17.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 28 mm. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in May82June25° · Sea 20° · 11 h
In June, Tarifa is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 19.7 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in June91July27° · Sea 21° · 11 h
In July, Tarifa is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 21.4 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in July92August28° · Sea 22° · 10 h
In August, Tarifa is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 21.9 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in August88September25° · Sea 21° · 8 h
In September, Tarifa is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sea averages 21.1 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 25 mm in total. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in September58October22° · Sea 20° · 7 h
In October, Tarifa is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 20.3 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 60 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in October30November18° · Sea 19° · 6 h
In November, Tarifa is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 18.9 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 79 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in November22December16° · Sea 18° · 5 h
In December, Tarifa is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 17.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 93 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Tarifa.
Tarifa in DecemberTarifa compared
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Tarifa vs. Algeciras
In October Tarifa has the better holiday weather (score 58 vs. 52). During the day it is about as warm in Algeciras as in Tarifa. The sea in Algeciras is 1 °C cooler.
| in October | Tarifa | Algeciras |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 58 | 52 |
| Daytime high | 22° | 22° |
| Sea | 20° | 19° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 7 | 8 |
| Best time | Jun – Sep | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
Spain in October: the best places
In October, Tarifa ranks 23 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Alicante24°23°94
- 2Almería23°21°93
- 3Cartagena23°22°93
- 4Elche24°93
- 5Murcia26°92
- 6Córdoba26°90
- 7Seville26°89
- 8Granada22°88
- 23TarifaThis page22°20°58
Planning a trip to Tarifa
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Tarifa in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Tarifa has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 92) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 22).
- 31
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 8.0 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 59
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 22 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 9.7 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 92
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 10.6 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 58
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 22 °C by day
- Sea 20 °C
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 22
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 2 h 40 min
- Distance
- 1,770 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Tarifa
When is the best time to visit Tarifa?
The best time to visit Tarifa is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Tarifa?
The sea temperature in Tarifa ranges from 16.0 °C in March to 21.9 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from July to October.
Can you swim in Tarifa in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 20.3 °C – refreshing for a swim.
What is the warmest month in Tarifa?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C and nights around 21 °C. January is the coolest month at 15 °C.
When does it rain most in Tarifa?
The wettest month is December with 93 mm of precipitation. The driest month is July with 1 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Tarifa get?
Tarifa gets around 2,920 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 11.2 hours a day; in December there are 5.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Tarifa in?
Tarifa uses the time zone Europe/Madrid: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Tarifa?
A nonstop flight from London to Tarifa takes about 2 h 40 min, for a straight-line distance of about 1,770 km.
Which school holidays are best for Tarifa?
Tarifa has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 92) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 22). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 31, May half-term 59, Summer holidays 92, October half-term 58, Christmas holidays 22.
Near Tarifa
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Tarifa
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Tarifa's – good alternatives.