Cape May in Spring
In spring (March, April and May), Cape May sees average daytime highs around 56°F and overnight lows near 48°F, with 11.4 in of precipitation over about 30 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 44°F in early March to 68°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.
Spring is Cape May's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Cape May's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 56°F
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 48°F
- Precipitation
- 11.4 in
- 30 wet days
- Avg wind
- 12 mph
- Travel score
- 3.7
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Cape May in Spring
Over the season highs climb from about 44°F in early March to 68°F by late May.
A typical spring day in Cape May reaches about 56°F and drops to 48°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.
How spring really feels in Cape May
Once humidity and wind are folded in, spring brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 18 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in spring is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Cape May weather by month
How the three spring months (March, April and May) 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 Spring
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time across spring.
Chance of precipitation in Spring
Cape May gets around 11.4 in of rain and snow over 30 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Spring
Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Spring
Winds average 12 mph across spring.
Sunrise & sunset in Spring
Daylight runs from about 11 hours in early March to 14 h 30 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Spring
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 5.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Cape May
None of Cape May's seasonal hazards peak in spring. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Cape May sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Is spring a good time to visit Cape May?
Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
spring is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Cape May.
What to pack for Cape May in Spring
From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In spring, Cape May sees daytime highs around 56°F and nights near 48°F. Pack a warm layer and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear and a windbreaker. About 30 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Cape May in Spring
The nearest coast averages about 49°F across spring — 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 Spring
Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages 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.
| 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 Spring
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where spring 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.