Cape May in Fall
In fall (September, October and November), Cape May sees average daytime highs around 64°F and overnight lows near 58°F, with 12.0 in of precipitation over about 26 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 76°F in early September to 51°F by late November. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is Cape May's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Cape May's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 64°F
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 58°F
- Precipitation
- 12.0 in
- 26 wet days
- Avg wind
- 12 mph
- Travel score
- 5.6
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Sep · Oct · Nov
Temperature in Cape May in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 76°F in early September to 51°F by late November.
A typical fall day in Cape May reaches about 64°F and drops to 58°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is September, the coolest November.
How fall really feels in Cape May
Once humidity and wind are folded in, fall brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.
fall sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Cape May weather by month
How the three fall months (September, October and November) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41° / 33° | 3.6 | 9.9 | 3 | 9.6 | 0.1 |
| Feb | 42° / 34° | 3.6 | 9.3 | 2.5 | 10.5 | 0.2 |
| Mar | 47° / 39° | 4.4 | 10.6 | 1.5 | 11.7 | 1.5 |
| Apr | 56° / 48° | 3.5 | 9.9 | 0.2 | 13 | 3.8 |
| May | 64° / 57° | 3.5 | 9.7 | 0 | 14.1 | 5.8 |
| Jun | 73° / 67° | 3.0 | 9 | 0 | 14.7 | 6.9 |
| Jul | 79° / 73° | 3.3 | 9.3 | 0 | 14.4 | 6.9 |
| Aug | 78° / 73° | 3.7 | 9.2 | 0 | 13.5 | 7.0 |
| Sep | 73° / 68° | 3.8 | 8.6 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.2 |
| Oct | 64° / 58° | 4.7 | 8.5 | 0 | 11 | 6.1 |
| Nov | 54° / 47° | 3.5 | 8.4 | 0.1 | 9.9 | 3.5 |
| Dec | 46° / 39° | 4.3 | 9.6 | 1 | 9.3 | 1.4 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Cape May gets around 12.0 in of rain and snow over 26 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 12 mph across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 min in early September to 9 h 30 min by late November. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 3.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Cape May
In fall, Cape May overlaps its atlantic hurricane season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Cape May sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Is fall a good time to visit Cape May?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is a reasonable time to visit Cape May for sightseeing.
What to pack for Cape May in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Cape May sees daytime highs around 64°F and nights near 58°F. Worth packing: light clothes, a warm layer, rain gear, sun protection and a windbreaker. About 26 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Cape May in Fall
The nearest coast averages about 64°F across fall — 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 41 | 39 | 41 | 48 | 57 | 67 | 74 | 75 | 73 | 65 | 56 | 47 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41 | Bracing |
| Feb | 39 | Bracing |
| Mar | 41 | Bracing |
| Apr | 48 | Bracing |
| May | 57 | Bracing |
| Jun | 67 | Cool |
| Jul | 74 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 75 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 73 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 65 | Cool |
| Nov | 56 | Bracing |
| Dec | 47 | Bracing |
UV index in Cape May in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Moderate |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 8 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 6 | High |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in Cape May in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 12 | Good |
| Apr | 13 | Moderate |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 10 | Good |
| Oct | 7 | Good |
| Nov | 6 | Good |
| Dec | 7 | Good |
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.
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
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.