Cape May weather in October

In October, Cape May sees average daytime highs of 64°F and overnight lows near 58°F, with 4.7 in of rain across 8.5 wet days and about 11 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 69°F in the first days to 60°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in October, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 36 min at the start of October to 10 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Cape May's 1st-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cape May's year-round climate.

Daytime high
64°
5th warmest
Overnight low
58°
8th coldest
Rainfall
4.7 in
8.5 wet days
Daylight
11 hours
6:16 AM – 5:14 PM
Cloud cover
50%
1st clearest
Wind
12 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
3.44 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
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 October

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 69°F in the first days to 60°F by the end.

A typical October day in Cape May reaches about 64°F in the afternoon and slips back to 58°F overnight — a 6°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 57°F and 71°F. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 9°F cooler than September and about 10°F warmer than November.

40°50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16963
26963
36963
46862
56862
66862
76761
86761
96760
106660
116660
126659
136559
146559
156558
166458
176458
186457
196357
206356
216356
226256
236255
246255
256155
266154
276154
286053
296053
306053
315952

How October really feels in Cape May

Once humidity and wind are folded in, October averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 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
0
wind chill below the day's low

October 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 October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 5th-warmest and 1st-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 October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in October, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 42%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15545
25644
35644
45743
55743
65743
75842
85842
95842
105842
115941
125941
135941
146040
156040
166040
176040
186040
195941
206040
215941
225941
235842
245842
255842
265842
275743
285743
295644
305644
315743

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Cape May gets around 4.7 in of rain over 8.5 wet days in October, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 28% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
128
228
328
428
528
628
728
828
929
1029
1129
1230
1330
1431
1531
1631
1731
1830
1930
2030
2129
2229
2328
2427
2527
2626
2726
2825
2925
3025
3125

Humidity in October

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, October lands in the dry band about 60% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 8% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1352119213
2372219193
3382218183
4402218163
5422218153
6432218133
7452218123
8472217113
9482217103
1050221793
1152211683
1254211672
1356201662
1458201552
1560191542
1662191441
1765181331
1865181331
1968171230
2070161130
2171161030
2273151020
237415920
247514920
257614820
267614820
277714810
287913710
297913710
307913710
318013610

Wind in October

Winds average 12 mph in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 11 mph on the calmest days to 13 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
111light breeze
211light breeze
311light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912breezy
2012breezy
2112breezy
2213breezy
2313breezy
2413breezy
2513breezy
2613breezy
2713breezy
2813breezy
2913breezy
3013breezy
3113breezy

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of October to 10 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 72 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 6:01 AM to 6:32 AM, and sunset from 5:37 PM to 4:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:015:37
211.66:025:35
311.56:035:33
411.56:045:32
511.46:055:30
611.46:065:29
711.36:075:27
811.36:085:25
911.36:095:24
1011.26:105:22
1111.26:115:21
1211.16:125:19
1311.16:135:18
1411.06:145:16
1511.06:155:15
1611.06:165:14
1710.96:175:12
1810.96:185:11
1910.86:195:09
2010.86:205:08
2110.86:215:07
2210.76:225:05
2310.76:235:04
2410.66:245:03
2510.66:255:01
2610.66:265:00
2710.56:284:59
2810.56:294:58
2910.46:304:57
3010.46:314:55
3110.46:324:54

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 3.44 kWh/m².

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 — October's 3.44 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.0Moderate
23.9Moderate
33.9Moderate
43.9Moderate
53.8Moderate
63.8Moderate
73.7Moderate
83.7Moderate
93.7Moderate
103.6Moderate
113.6Moderate
123.6Moderate
133.5Moderate
143.5Moderate
153.5Moderate
163.4Moderate
173.4Moderate
183.4Moderate
193.3Moderate
203.3Moderate
213.3Moderate
223.2Moderate
233.2Moderate
243.2Moderate
253.1Moderate
263.1Moderate
273.1Moderate
283.0Moderate
293.0Moderate
303.0Moderate
312.9Moderate
Planning a trip in October

Hazard calendar for Cape May

In seasonPeak

In October, Cape May sits inside 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.

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

Is October a good time to visit Cape May?

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

6.1
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
2.1
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

October is a reasonable time to visit Cape May for sightseeing.

What to pack for Cape May in October

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

In October, Cape May sees daytime highs around 64°F and nights near 58°F. Worth packing: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

rain gear

Sea temperature near Cape May in October

The nearest coast averages about 65°F in October — 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 October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks 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.

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 October

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where October 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
October 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).