Cape May weather in December

In December, Cape May sees average daytime highs of 46°F and overnight lows near 39°F, with 4.3 in of precipitation across 9.6 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 49°F in the first days to 44°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Cape May's 8th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cape May's year-round climate.

Daytime high
46°
10th warmest
Overnight low
39°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
4.3 in
9.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
7:17 AM – 4:34 PM
Cloud cover
58%
8th clearest
Wind
13 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
1.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.4
out of 10

Cape May is city in New Jersey, United States.

Density
495/km²
people per km²
Founded
1611

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 49°F in the first days to 44°F by the end.

A typical December day in Cape May reaches about 46°F in the afternoon and slips back to 39°F overnight — a 8°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 36°F and 56°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°30°40°50°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15043
25042
34942
44942
54942
64941
74841
84840
94840
104740
114740
124739
134739
144639
154639
164639
174638
184638
194638
204538
214538
224538
234537
244537
254437
264437
274437
284437
294436
304436
314436

How December really feels in Cape May

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 20 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
20
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Cape May weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan41° / 33°3.69.939.60.1
Feb42° / 34°3.69.32.510.50.2
Mar47° / 39°4.410.61.511.71.5
Apr56° / 48°3.59.90.2133.8
May64° / 57°3.59.7014.15.8
Jun73° / 67°3.09014.76.9
Jul79° / 73°3.39.3014.46.9
Aug78° / 73°3.79.2013.57.0
Sep73° / 68°3.88.6012.37.2
Oct64° / 58°4.78.50116.1
Nov54° / 47°3.58.40.19.93.5
Dec46° / 39°4.39.619.31.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15149
25050
34951
44852
54753
64555
74555
84357
94258
104159
114258
124258
134258
144258
154258
164456
174456
184555
194753
204753
214852
224951
235050
245050
255050
265050
275050
285050
295050
305050
314951

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Cape May gets around 4.3 in of rain and snow over 9.6 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 31% and peaks near 33% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1302
2302
3312
4312
5313
6323
7323
8323
9333
10333
11333
12333
13333
14333
15333
16323
17323
18323
19313
20313
21313
22304
23304
24304
25304
26304
27304
28304
29314
30314
31315

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 99% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1973
2973
3973
4982
5982
6982
7982
8982
9991
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22991
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
28991
29991
301000
311000

Wind in December

Winds average 13 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 13 mph on the calmest days to 14 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1513breezy
1613breezy
1713breezy
1813breezy
1913breezy
2013breezy
2113breezy
2213breezy
2313breezy
2413breezy
2513breezy
2613breezy
2713breezy
2813breezy
2913breezy
3014breezy
3114breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:05 AM to 7:24 AM, and sunset from 4:33 PM to 4:42 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.57:054:33
29.57:064:33
39.47:074:33
49.47:084:33
59.47:094:33
69.47:104:33
79.47:114:33
89.47:114:33
99.37:124:33
109.37:134:33
119.37:144:33
129.37:154:33
139.37:154:34
149.37:164:34
159.37:174:34
169.37:174:34
179.37:184:35
189.37:194:35
199.37:194:35
209.37:204:36
219.37:204:36
229.37:214:37
239.37:214:37
249.37:214:38
259.37:224:38
269.37:224:39
279.37:234:39
289.37:234:40
299.37:234:41
309.37:234:41
319.37:244:42

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.98 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.98 kWh/m² to a high of 6.56 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.98 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.1Moderate
32.1Moderate
42.1Moderate
52.0Moderate
62.0Moderate
72.0Moderate
82.0Dim
92.0Dim
102.0Dim
111.9Dim
121.9Dim
131.9Dim
141.9Dim
151.9Dim
161.9Dim
171.9Dim
181.9Dim
191.9Dim
201.9Dim
212.0Dim
222.0Dim
232.0Dim
242.0Dim
252.0Dim
262.0Moderate
272.0Moderate
282.0Moderate
292.0Moderate
302.0Moderate
312.0Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Cape May

In seasonPeak

None of Cape May's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Cape May sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Cape May?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

1.4
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Cape May.

What to pack for Cape May in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Cape May sees daytime highs around 46°F and nights near 39°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Cape May in December

The nearest coast averages about 47°F in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 75°F and coldest in February near 39°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 21 to Oct 4 — about 3.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan41Bracing
Feb39Bracing
Mar41Bracing
Apr48Bracing
May57Bracing
Jun67Cool
Jul74Refreshing
Aug75Refreshing
Sep73Refreshing
Oct65Cool
Nov56Bracing
Dec47Bracing

UV index in Cape May in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Cape May peaks around July 11 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 11UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Cape May in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Cape May is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1216 µg/m³Nov 157 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar12Good
Apr13Moderate
May13Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct7Good
Nov6Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Cape May?

Cape May sits at 38.9°N, 74.9°W, 0 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Millville, 33 mi away.

Topography around Cape May

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Cape May.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Cape May has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 59 ft around an average of 3 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 89 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 210 ft.

The land around Cape May is covered by water (57%) within 2 miles, water (81%) within 10 miles, and water (44%) and trees (31%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
59 ft
10 miles
89 ft
50 miles
210 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Millville 33 mi · South Vineland 36 mi · Dover 37 mi · Pleasantville 37 mi · Bridgeton 39 mi · Vineland 39 mi · Atlantic City 39 mi · Williamstown 52 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Cape May (38.9351°, -74.906°, elevation 0 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).