Compare · Morocco and Spain

Essaouira vs Dakhla vs Tarifa

On ten years of ERA5 data, Dakhla is the windiest and most consistent: 89% of July days average 12 knots or more, against 75% in Essaouira's best month, July. Essaouira is a strong summer destination with cool water and a historic town. The data badly underestimates Tarifa's Levante, so do not read its low numbers at face value.

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The three destinations

Morocco

Essaouira

Days ≥ 12 kn, year average
44%
Windiest month in the data
July: 75% of days, 14.0 kn
July wind from (hours ≥ 8 kn)
N 86%, NE 12%
Sea, offshore model
17.0–19.7 °C
  • Long sandy Atlantic bay; wave spots nearby (Moulay Bouzerktoun, experts only).
  • Summer trade wind from the north, April to September.
  • Fly to Marrakech (≈190 km) or Agadir (≈170 km); small airport ESU ≈15 km.

Morocco

Dakhla

Days ≥ 12 kn, year average
65%
Windiest month in the data
July: 89% of days, 16.0 kn
July wind from (hours ≥ 8 kn)
N 77%, NE 21%
Sea, offshore model
17.7–21.2 °C
  • Long peninsula with a lagoon of about 40 km: flat-water lagoon and ocean spots.
  • The windiest spot in our dataset, mostly north and north-east.
  • Dakhla airport (VIL).

Spain

Tarifa

Days ≥ 12 kn, year average
27%*
Windiest month in the data
Not reliable (see caveat)
July wind from (hours ≥ 8 kn)
W 52%, E 43%
Sea, offshore model
Not in our dataset
  • On the Strait of Gibraltar. Sea temperature is not in our dataset.
  • Two winds: Levante from the east and Poniente from the west.
  • Travel to Tarifa is not covered by this guide.

* ERA5 strongly underestimates Tarifa's Levante. See below.

How often is it windy, month by month?

Days with a daytime mean of 12 knots or moreERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2015–2024, 11:00–18:00 local time
  • Essaouira
  • Dakhla
  • Tarifa

The numbers

Mean daytime wind (kn) and share of days with a daytime mean of at least 12 kn. ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2015–2024.
MonthEssaouiraDakhlaTarifa
kn≥ 12 knkn≥ 12 knkn≥ 12 kn
January9.128%11.850%9.530%
February10.234%12.757%11.245%
March11.240%13.666%10.234%
April11.647%13.669%10.434%
May12.756%14.681%9.526%
June12.857%15.487%9.725%
July14.075%16.089%9.019%
August13.064%14.476%8.821%
September11.046%14.282%8.919%
October9.128%11.544%9.224%
November9.428%10.839%9.024%
December8.021%10.736%9.527%
Temperatures, °C. Air: mean daily maximum, ERA5 2015–2024. Sea: offshore model, Open-Meteo Marine API 2022–2024 (not available for Tarifa in our dataset).
MonthEssaouira airEssaouira seaDakhla airDakhla seaTarifa air
January19.317.322.417.916.0
February19.717.022.317.816.5
March20.317.023.117.717.8
April21.517.723.318.819.4
May23.217.524.319.222.4
June24.318.925.420.125.1
July26.618.126.520.228.2
August27.018.528.021.228.5
September25.519.028.021.026.0
October24.719.727.521.222.9
November22.319.025.420.419.3
December20.617.923.619.217.3

Which should you choose?

Choose Dakhla if wind consistency is everything: in the data it beats Essaouira in every month, and its lagoon offers flat water.

Choose Essaouira for a summer trip (May to August) that combines the summer north wind with a historic medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and easy access from Marrakech or Agadir. Winter is lighter.

For Tarifa, do not rely on this dataset: look at local station records, which capture the Levante far better than a reanalysis grid.

For more on Essaouira itself, see the month-by-month Essaouira wind guide and the spots around town.

Questions travellers ask

Is Dakhla windier than Essaouira?

Yes, in the ERA5 data. Dakhla averages 65% of days at 12 knots or more across the year, against 44% for Essaouira, and reaches 89% in July.

Is Tarifa less windy than Essaouira?

Not necessarily. ERA5 strongly underestimates Tarifa's Levante, which is funnelled through the Strait of Gibraltar, so Tarifa's numbers here are too low to compare fairly. Use local station data for Tarifa.

Where is the water warmer, Essaouira or Dakhla?

Dakhla's ocean side, in the model: about 17.7–21.2 °C offshore, against 17.0–19.7 °C for Essaouira. Both call for a wetsuit for most of the year.

When is the best month for each?

By share of days at 12 knots or more: Essaouira July (75%), Dakhla July (89%). Tarifa's ERA5 values are not reliable enough to name a best month.

Sources

  1. 1.Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. ERA5 wind and air temperature, 2015–2024
  2. 2.Open-Meteo Marine API. Sea surface temperature, 2022–2024
  3. 3.ERA5 hourly data on single levels (Copernicus Climate Change Service)
  4. 4.Open-Meteo licence (CC BY 4.0). Weather data by Open-Meteo.com