SeasonMapTarifa weather in May
Spain
May in Tarifa: nice, dry — an excellent time to visit.
#5 of 12 months in Tarifa · #477 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 85/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Tarifa in May
Notes from nearby Gibraltar (27 km away)
Tarifa doesn't have its own notes for May yet — these are about Gibraltar, close enough to share the season.
May in Gibraltar comes in around 23°C — the forum's phrase is warm enough to sunbathe but not so scorching that you cannot comfortably do the Rock, which is rather the point of timing a visit here. Rain is possible but May is usually fine, with only a handful of wet days. The local phenomenon worth knowing is the levanter: a cloud that forms when hot air off Africa rises and condenses against the Rock. It is not a rain cloud, and it typically either burns off by early afternoon or sits for a couple of days — but while it is there, the view from the top is gone.
Other months in Tarifa
Tarifa's forum calls July peak season, warm and lively with restaurants and beach bars in full swing. Regulars are unanimous that wind is the defining feature here year-round — Europe's windsurfing capital for a reason — and flag it as strong enough on a bad day to sandblast anyone lounging on the beach, worth knowing before booking a purely relaxing beach trip.
Add your own note from Tarifa's card on the map.
Tarifa climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 22°C / 71°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 16°C / 60°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 22°C / 72°F | |
| Sea temperature | 19°C / 67°F | 🌊 fresh |
| Rainfall | 19 mm / 0.8 in | ☀️ dry |
| Rainy days | 3 days | |
| Humidity | 74% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 15°C / 58°F | |
| Sunshine | 12.5 h/day | |
| Daylight | 14.1 h | |
| Wind | 22 km/h / 13 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 52 | 🙂 moderate |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Tarifa in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Shoulder seasonschool holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Tarifa's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherTarifa's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Tarifa in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Spring raptor migration
15 Feb – 15 May · usuallyBirdlife seasonMillions of birds cross here because it is the narrowest point of the strait. Storks and honey buzzards come north from late February, and on a good morning the sky above Cazalla is full of them.
- Nature
Whale and dolphin season
1 Apr – 15 Oct · usuallyWhale seasonPilot whales and three dolphin species are resident in the strait through the season, with sperm whales passing. Boats go from the harbour and turn back when the levante is up.
- Season
Levante season
15 May – 30 Sep · usuallyWind seasonRiskThe easterly funnels through the strait for days at a time and is why every kite and windsurf school in Spain is here. It also makes the beach unusable for anyone lying on it.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Tarifa — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Tarifa?
Tarifa in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Tarifa?
- May in Tarifa: nice, dry — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Tarifa on SeasonMap's comfort score (85/100).
- What is the weather like in Tarifa in May?
- In May, Tarifa averages a daily high of 21.8°C and a low of 15.8°C, with about 19.3 mm of rain over roughly 2.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Tarifa in May?
- Tarifa has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 52 in May.
Other months in Tarifa
Compare Tarifa in May
Warmer or cooler than Tarifa in May
Similar destinations in Southern Europe — May
Within 300 km: Gibraltar's Spring raptor migration around 15 Feb – 31 May, and Cádiz's Almadraba tuna season around 20 Apr – 15 Jun.