It is best to stay south of Charleston until May, to avoid some late-winter cold snaps. Reaching Norfolk in late May or early June is ideal. By June, hot weather prevails all along the Waterway. It was so hot, one of the bridges refused to open until sprayed with water. Our ideal schedule would be to reach New England by the first half of June, when the northern summer has finally begun.
Cold fronts sweep down from the north, pushing boats south with strong northwest to northeast winds.
The cold, wind, and rain will last just a few days, reminding snowbirds why they're headed south. Trying to head north into the teeth of one of these storms can be wet and miserable in some of the less protected areas. Several bridges may not open if the wind gets strong enough. Before leaving an anchorage or dock, call ahead if in doubt as to storm conditions. Beware of the possibility of unusually high and low tides in certain areas.