How Weather and Seasons Affect USA–Nigeria Shipping Routes

The first time I tracked a car shipment from New Jersey to Lagos, I assumed the ship would glide across the Atlantic on a straight path like a flight map. Two weeks max, I thought. Instead, I found myself refreshing the tracking page daily, watching the vessel slow down, reroute, and even anchor mid-ocean because of rough weather. By the time the car finally arrived at Tin Can Island Port, I had learned the hard way: shipping routes aren’t just about geography, they’re about weather, seasons, and all the unpredictability that the Atlantic likes to throw at vessels.

If you’re planning to ship a car or container from the U.S. to Nigeria, you need to know that the ocean has its moods. And those moods matter. Timing your shipment can make the difference between a smooth, predictable voyage and one riddled with delays, surcharges, or even damaged cargo. Let’s unpack how weather and seasons play into this transatlantic trade.

The Atlantic Isn’t Always Friendly

On paper, the route from U.S. East Coast ports like Baltimore, Savannah, or New York down to Lagos looks straightforward. Ships cut through the Atlantic, sometimes stopping in Europe or Morocco before heading into West Africa. But the Atlantic has a reputation for being temperamental. Storms don’t just disrupt flights—they wreak havoc at sea too.

Shipping companies factor in seasonal patterns when scheduling voyages, but no one can fully predict how a storm system will behave. A ship that was supposed to take 14 days may need 21 if the captain decides to slow down or alter course for safety. And that extra week doesn’t just eat up your patience—it can mean higher costs in fuel, port scheduling, and storage.

Hurricane Season in the U.S.

If you’ve lived in the States or followed the news, you know hurricane season runs roughly from June to November, with the peak in August and September. What many first-time shippers don’t realize is how directly this season influences transatlantic shipping.

Hurricanes and tropical storms forming in the Caribbean or along the Gulf of Mexico may not always head toward Africa, but they still disrupt U.S. ports. A storm near Savannah, for instance, can shut the port down for days, backing up cargo. Ships scheduled to sail from Florida may be delayed, rerouted, or forced to anchor offshore.

I remember a client once complaining that their container sat in Baltimore for two weeks longer than expected because a hurricane shut down operations at multiple East Coast ports. By the time the ship finally sailed, the backlog had grown so severe that clearing in Lagos became another battle. That’s the domino effect: one storm in the U.S. can ripple all the way to Nigeria.

Winter Weather: The Ice and Fog Factor

If hurricanes dominate the summer and fall, winter brings its own headaches. Ports in the northern U.S.—like New York or Newark—deal with icy conditions, snowstorms, and reduced visibility. Ice on the Hudson or Delaware rivers can slow down tugboats and cause bottlenecks.

Fog is another villain. Heavy winter fog may force ships to delay departure or crawl at slower speeds for safety. While it doesn’t sound dramatic compared to a hurricane, the cumulative effect is the same: longer transit times.

One shipping agent once told me that January shipments from New York almost always run late, even in years with “mild” winters. “It’s not just the snow,” he said, “it’s the chain reaction—labor shortages during storms, frozen equipment, and delayed trucking to the ports.”

Crossing the Atlantic: Storm Belts and Trade Winds

Even once a ship leaves the U.S., the Atlantic itself presents challenges. The North Atlantic storm belt is notorious for rough seas, especially in late fall and winter. High waves don’t necessarily sink modern vessels, but they can slow them dramatically.

Captains often adjust routes to catch favorable trade winds or avoid storm-heavy regions. That’s why sometimes your vessel tracking looks like it’s zigzagging instead of heading in a straight line. Those zigzags may add days to your shipment, but they’re also what keep your car safe from damage.

I once asked a freight forwarder why a ship carrying my cousin’s SUV suddenly looped further south than expected. He shrugged and said, “The captain didn’t want the Atlantic tossing that ship like a toy. A few days delay is better than dented cargo.” Fair point.

The West African Rainy Season

Now let’s shift focus to the Nigerian side. Even if your ship crosses the Atlantic smoothly, the West African rainy season can cause delays at destination ports. Nigeria has two rainy seasons: a longer one from April to July and a shorter one in September and October. During these months, heavy rains and flooding disrupt port activities.

Picture Tin Can Island Port during a downpour. Trucks get stuck in muddy access roads, cranes pause for safety, and visibility drops. Containers can’t be moved as efficiently, which creates backlogs. Even customs operations sometimes slow down because staff physically can’t process as quickly when the port is half-flooded.

One importer once told me he avoids scheduling arrivals in June altogether, after his car sat at the port an extra week because forklifts couldn’t operate in flooded terminals. He still paid storage fees, rain or no rain.

Holiday Season Crunch

Weather isn’t the only seasonal factor. Human behavior plays a big role too. The “ember months”—September through December—are peak shipping periods as Nigerians rush to bring in cars and goods before year-end. Add holiday-season congestion to unpredictable Atlantic weather, and you have a recipe for delays.

During December especially, even a minor weather disruption in the U.S. or Atlantic can snowball into weeks of backlog in Lagos. Shipping lines raise rates due to demand, and clearing agents charge higher fees as they scramble to handle the influx. It’s like peak season airfare—if you must ship in December, be ready to pay more and wait longer.

Insurance and Risk Management

Another angle weather affects is insurance. Shipping lines calculate insurance premiums partly based on the season. Cargo traveling during hurricane months or through storm-prone waters may attract slightly higher insurance costs.

From a personal standpoint, I’d never recommend skipping marine insurance. A neighbor once laughed off insurance when shipping his Honda Accord, saying, “What’s the worst that can happen?” That same year, a container ship lost dozens of boxes overboard in a storm. He wasn’t directly affected, but that incident was enough to make him rethink. Bad weather doesn’t sink every ship, but it can and does damage cargo.

Should You Time Your Shipment?

This brings us to the practical question: when’s the best time to ship from the U.S. to Nigeria? There’s no perfect window, but there are smarter choices.

Avoid peak hurricane months (August–September) if you can. Ships are more likely to face delays.

Watch December congestion. If your car arrives just before Christmas, expect clearing agents to be swamped and storage fees to rise.

Consider spring shipments (March–May). Ports are generally calmer, weather is milder, and demand is lower.

That said, life doesn’t always wait for the “perfect” time. If you need a car or container shipped in August, you’ll do it. Just budget extra time and maybe a little extra money.

A Balancing Act

Weather and seasons don’t make shipping impossible—they just make it less predictable. A two-week crossing can stretch to four, and a smooth Lagos clearance can turn into a slog if rains or congestion hit. The best strategy isn’t to fear the seasons but to factor them into your plan.

I often tell people: think of shipping like traveling through Lagos traffic. You can’t always avoid traffic jams, but if you know rush hour, you can plan smarter. Likewise, knowing how weather and seasons affect U.S.–Nigeria routes gives you leverage. You can negotiate better with freight forwarders, manage your expectations, and avoid costly surprises.

And when your tracking page shows your ship taking the scenic route across the Atlantic, you’ll understand it’s not just wandering—it’s navigating the moods of the ocean.

Published on: Sep 07, 2025

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