KITESURFING Winds in Tarifa
Surfers have to pay close attention to up-to-date wind reports from websites such as Wind Guru (see related links), although kites can be flown in lighter winds than for windsurfing. The best kitesurfing months are May to November.
There are two predominant winds in Tarifa. The levante is the warm, strong wind from the east that blows offshore (from land to sea) - force 5 to 7, or even 8, on the Beaufort scale. The poniente is the cooler, lighter westerly wind from the Atlantic that blows onshore (from sea to land) - force 3 to 6. Depending on the month, 50-80% of days have a wind greater than force 4.
calm air, calm - wind moving at less than 1 knot; 0 on the Beaufort scale
light air - wind moving 1-3 knots; 1 on the Beaufort scale
light breeze - wind moving 4-7 knots; 2 on the Beaufort scale
gentle breeze - wind moving 8-12 knots; 3 on the Beaufort scale
moderate breeze - wind moving 13-18 knots; 4 on the Beaufort scale
fresh breeze - wind moving 19-24 knots; 5 on the Beaufort scale
strong breeze - wind moving 25-31 knots; 6 on the Beaufort scale
moderate gale, near gale - wind moving 32-38 knots; 7 on the Beaufort scale
fresh gale - wind moving 39-46 knots; 8 on the Beaufort scale
strong gale - wind moving 47-54 knots; 9 on the Beaufort scale
whole gale - wind moving 55-63 knots; 10 on the Beaufort scale
storm, violent storm - a violent weather condition with heavy rain, thunder and lightning and winds 64-72 knots; 11 on the Beaufort scale
hurricane - a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving a 73-136 knots; 12 on the Beaufort scale