Cape May weather in September

In September, Cape May sees average daytime highs of 73°F and overnight lows near 68°F, with 3.8 in of rain across 8.6 wet days and about 12.3 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 76°F in the first days to 70°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 41% of the time in September, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 54 min at the start of September to 11 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Cape May's 3rd-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cape May's year-round climate.

Daytime high
73°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
68°
10th coldest
Rainfall
3.8 in
8.6 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:46 AM – 6:01 PM
Cloud cover
52%
3rd clearest
Wind
11 mph
9th windiest
Solar energy
4.59 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.2
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 September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 76°F in the first days to 70°F by the end.

A typical September day in Cape May reaches about 73°F in the afternoon and slips back to 68°F overnight — a 6°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 68°F and 78°F. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 5°F cooler than August and about 9°F warmer than October.

50°60°70°80°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17671
27671
37671
47671
57670
67570
77570
87570
97569
107469
117469
127469
137468
147468
157368
167367
177367
187367
197267
207267
217266
227266
237166
247165
257165
267165
277065
287064
297064
307064

How September really feels in Cape May

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September 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

September 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 September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 3rd-warmest and 4th-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 September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 41% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 43%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15941
25941
35941
45941
56040
66040
76040
86040
96040
106040
115941
125941
135941
145941
155743
165644
175545
185545
195446
205446
215446
225446
235446
245446
255446
265446
275545
285545
295545
305545

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Cape May gets around 3.8 in of rain over 8.6 wet days in September. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 27% and peaks near 28% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
127
227
327
427
527
627
727
827
927
1026
1126
1226
1326
1426
1525
1625
1726
1826
1926
2027
2127
2228
2328
2428
2528
2628
2728
2828
2928
3028

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, September lands in the muggy band about 28% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 42% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
14112430291
25112530291
35112529281
46112628271
57122628271
68122627251
79132627241
810132627231
911142627221
1012152627201
1113152527191
1214162527180
1315162528160
1416172428150
1517172428140
1618182429120
1718182329110
1819182329100
192019233090
202119233080
212219233070
222320222960
232420222950
242520222850
252720212840
262821212740
272921212630
283121202530
293221202430
303421192230

Wind in September

Winds average 11 mph in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 11 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
910light breeze
1010light breeze
1110light breeze
1210light breeze
1311light breeze
1411light breeze
1511light breeze
1611light breeze
1711light breeze
1811light breeze
1911light breeze
2011light breeze
2111light breeze
2211light breeze
2311light breeze
2411light breeze
2511light breeze
2611light breeze
2711light breeze
2811light breeze
2911light breeze
3011light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 min at the start of September to 11 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 78 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 5:33 AM to 6:00 AM, and sunset from 6:26 PM to 5:38 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.95:336:26
212.85:346:24
312.85:346:23
412.85:356:21
512.75:366:20
612.75:376:18
712.65:386:16
812.65:396:15
912.65:406:13
1012.55:416:11
1112.55:426:10
1212.45:436:08
1312.45:446:06
1412.35:456:05
1512.35:466:03
1612.25:466:01
1712.25:476:00
1812.25:485:58
1912.15:495:56
2012.15:505:55
2112.05:515:53
2212.05:525:51
2311.95:535:50
2411.95:545:48
2511.95:555:46
2611.85:565:45
2711.85:575:43
2811.75:585:41
2911.75:595:40
3011.66:005:38

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.59 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 — September's 4.59 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.2Bright
25.2Bright
35.1Bright
45.1Bright
55.0Bright
65.0Bright
75.0Bright
84.9Bright
94.9Bright
104.8Bright
114.8Bright
124.8Bright
134.7Bright
144.7Bright
154.6Bright
164.6Bright
174.5Bright
184.5Bright
194.5Bright
204.4Bright
214.4Bright
224.3Bright
234.3Bright
244.3Bright
254.2Bright
264.2Bright
274.1Bright
284.1Bright
294.0Bright
304.0Bright
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Cape May

In seasonPeak

In September, 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 September a good time to visit Cape May?

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

7.2
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
5.5
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

September is one of the better times to visit Cape May for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Cape May in September

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

In September, Cape May sees daytime highs around 73°F and nights near 68°F. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 9 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Cape May in September

The nearest coast averages about 73°F in September — 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 September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 6 — 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 September

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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