What causes the ‘taró’ fog that closes Malaga’s beaches every summer?
If you’ve spent any summer in Malaga, you’ve probably witnessed the taró weather phenomenon at least once.
Known locally as el taró, this dense sea mist in Malaga can transform sunny beaches into a hazy, mysterious scene within minutes.
What is the taró fog?
Taró is a form of Andalusian coastal fog that commonly appears between Malaga and Ceuta, most often in August.
Unlike the light morning haze seen in many seaside towns, taró fog in Malaga is far denser and longer lasting. It can cause temperatures to drop suddenly by 4 to 5 °C, bringing brief but welcome relief from the Costa del Sol heat.
However, unlike other forms of coastal fog that typically vanish by midday, taró often lingers well into the afternoon.
This persistence makes it one of the most distinctive features of summer weather in Malaga.
Why does Malaga get fog in August?
The conditions for taró form on the hottest days of the year. When cold Atlantic water pushes into the Alborán Sea and collides with dry southern winds, rapid condensation occurs. The result is thick, rolling fog that sweeps inland and shrouds the coastline.
This explains why Malaga gets fog in August, when the contrast between hot, dry air and cooler sea currents is at its strongest.
A signature of Malaga’s summer climate
The effect of the fog on Malaga’s beaches is immediate. Visibility drops sharply, sometimes making it impossible to see beyond a few metres.
For safety reasons, lifeguards often raise red flags, resulting in beach closures until conditions improve.
Although inconvenient for swimmers and tourists, locals see taró as a natural part of life on the Costa del Sol. Some even welcome it, as the cooling fog provides a short break from relentless heatwaves.
Whether you find it fascinating or frustrating, taró highlights the unique interaction between the Atlantic and Mediterranean climates along the Andalusian coast and remains one of the region’s most intriguing weather phenomena.
Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.