WINDSURF CALENDAR

Find out here what each month means to the windsurfer.  Do you need a
wetsuit, when do seabreezes occur, when do fronts come through, and
when is it just too cold to windsurf at all.  This page will tell you what to
expect.  This page is tuned to the Baltimore/Washington DC area
(39 N Latitude).  NJ and Tidewater, VA windsurfers should
shift this calendar by about weeks

January
In general for the mid-Atlantic (Maryland), it is too cold for windsurfing in January,
unless the air temperature is unusually warm. A wet suit is inadequate on most
days as the 100 degree rule (see glossary–air temp + water temp must exceed
100 for a full wet suit to be sufficient to keep you warm) is violated. There are
two exceptions 1) you can use a dry suit on days where the 100 degree rule is
violated and 2) if there is a warm day, like above 60 degrees F, it may be feasible
to windsurf using a wetsuit.  However, warmer climates are more amicable to
windsurfing in January. The Hatteras area of NC often, but not always, has
windy days in January that also comply with the 100 degree rule.  January is
also a good time to book a flight to a warmer windsurfing destination in
the Caribbean or elsewhere as the trade winds (see glossary) are strong.

February
Same comment as January

March
For the first half of the month, same comment as January.
It is not uncommon, in the latitudes about Baltimore and Washington, DC to have
 more than half of the days in March too cold for wetsuits for failing to comply
with the 100 degree rule. However, later in the month of March, a larger percentage
of the days do comply with the 100 degree rule and thus windsurfing with a wetsuit
nearby is more probable. In addition, places just south of the area, e.g., Hatteras
and even Tidewater, see a greater percentage of days where windsurfing is feasible
in March because of the 100 degree rule. Therefore, an avid windsurfer ought to
investigate trips to lower VA (i.e., Hampton Roads/Tidewater) or NC, especially
towards the end of March.  March, especially early March, is still a good time to
book a trip to the Caribbean.

April
In general, April is a wetsuit go month in the Baltimore/Washington area and cold
no longer is a prohibiting factor for those with wetsuits. Most days obey the 100
degree rule as the air temperature well exceeds 50 F. There is one thing you can
count on, the water in early April is still somewhat cold, often less than 50 degrees.
Nevertheless, it is possible to find some good windsurfing nearby. A good source
of wind at this time of year is from fronts that push through causing a strong W or NW flow.

May
In the Baltimore/Washington area, May is a transition month between using a wetsuit
and not using one at all. During this transition, it may be more desirable to use a
shorty wetsuit. In general, in the early part of the month, a shorty is used. Around the
20th, on average, the wetsuit is no longer needed. Be careful not to cast your wetsuit
aside, because even though the air temperature may be warm, the water is often
much colder as it lags behind the warm-up in air temperatures.

In general, weather in May comes essentially from the W or NW. Nevertheless,
when a hot day occurs, it is possible to experience good seabreezes or thermals
(check glossary for definitions of these terms). These are southerly or SSW winds
that develop on hot afternoons and are caused by a temperature difference between
the land and the water. Since the water is still cool in May, seabreeze winds can be
very strong on hot afternoons.

May is also particularly nice in that there are few weeds, few jellyfish, and few bugs.

June
In the Baltimore/Washington area, June is a month that you do not need any thermal
 gear. June is especially nice in that there are few weeds, few jellyfish and few bugs.
June seems to be a transition month in the Baltimore/Washington area between
getting weather from the West or NW to almost exclusively getting weather from the south.

In June, you also may want to consider catching seabreezes or thermals that occur
on hot afternoons. These are SSW winds that are caused by temperature differences
 between land and water. Check out venues that are notorious for thermals, such
as Lakes bay, NJ etc.

July
In July, the only kind of wind that one can windsurf in are from seabreezes or thermals.
In July, you essentially never experience the West to East frontal passages that occur
 in the Spring and the Fall.

July also marks a time when Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) or weeds and
Jellyfish start to proliferate. Large beds of SAV in shallow water can be a nuisance
to windsurfers. Thus, weed fins may be necessary. Motorboat traffic is near peak

August
Same comment as in July, except the weed problem and the jellyfish problem
continue to get worse. Furthermore, since the water temperature in later summer
is warmer than it is in June, the effect of seabreezes tend to be less as the summer
 wears on since the temperature difference between the air and the water lessens.

September
For the first half of September, same comment as for July and August, however
motorboat traffic drops off after Labor day.  For the last half of September, weather
patterns change and it is possible for strong winds to occur as the result of a
frontal passages from west to east. Thus, there is the possibility of good sailing in
the second half of September.
No wet suit is needed in September.

Do note, that the start of frontal passages from west to east depends on latitude.
In the Baltimore area, this occurs at about the 20th of September, but is earlier
for points north, such as NJ, NY etc and is later for points south such as Tidewater and Hatteras

October
October is the month where you begin to need to wear a wet suit. October is also
the month where strong winds occur due to frontal passages from west to east. 
My experience is that I can usually sail comfortably without a wetsuit through
the first weekend of October and sometimes through the Columbus day weekend
as well. At about the Columbus day weekend, a shorty wetsuit is necessary to keep
away the shivers. Generally, if the air temp is 70 or above and the wind is not from
the N, NW or W, you can get by in early October without a wetsuit.

However, when a front blows through, and the air behind the front is dry and cool,
a wetsuit is highly recommended because water evaporating off the body will
tend to cool you down, and this occurs more with dry air behind a front.

October has nice brisk cold fronts swinging through producing strong NW flows behind.

October still suffers from beds of weeds in the water.

November
Except for a rare hot day, November marks the transition from having to use a shorty
wetsuit to having to use a full wetsuit. Nevertheless, the 100 degree rule is in
general complied with for the entire month and it is rarely too cold for windsurfing
in November. Frontal passages continue to produce winds. November is a good month
to windsurf if you do not mind wearing a full wetsuit.  Late in the month, the SAV
or weeds tend to flush out and either accumulate and rot on the shore or simply
get washed down stream, clearing up the waterways again.

December
December is when you start to see days where it is too cold to comfortably
windsurf in a full wetsuit at the Baltimore/Washington latitudes. Some days are
warm enough and some days are too cold, and air temperature starts to become a
factor in December.

Nevertheless, air temperatures are still warmer in the southern latitudes, such as
Tidewater and Hatteras, and even though the 100 degree rule may be violated
here, it may be warm enough to windsurf down south. Thus, in December, consider
going to southern destinations, like Tidewater (aka Hampton Roads) and
Hatteras, where most of the days in December comply with the 100 degree rule.
 

So, what do I do?  I drive to where the wind is good, from NJ to NC.  On average,
that means using Hatteras from Thanksgiving til March, using Norfolk and Dewey beach
until well into April, use Lakes bay thru thermal season (May-Aug), anywhere for Sept
and briefly using DE and Norfolk as well as local venues in Oct and early Nov.  --In sum,
I use Hatteras when it is too cold to windsurf elsewhere, use Lakes bay for the thermals,
and use MD, DE, and Norfolk in the in-between seasons.  In each case, I use the forecast
engines before departing.