Cape May in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Cape May sees average daytime highs around 77°F and overnight lows near 71°F, with 10.0 in of rain over about 28 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 70°F in early June to 77°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels muggy.
Summer is Cape May's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Cape May's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 77°F
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 71°F
- Rainfall
- 10.0 in
- 28 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 mph
- Travel score
- 6.9
- best season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Cape May in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 70°F in early June to 77°F by late August.
A typical summer day in Cape May reaches about 77°F and drops to 71°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is July, the coolest June.
How summer really feels in Cape May
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.
summer 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 summer months (June, July and August) 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 Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Cape May gets around 10.0 in of rain over 28 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 9 mph across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 30 min in early June to 12 h 54 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 6.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Cape May
In summer, 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 summer a good time to visit Cape May?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Cape May for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Cape May in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Cape May sees daytime highs around 77°F and nights near 71°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes and rain gear. About 28 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Cape May in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 72°F across summer — 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 Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 8 — 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 Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer 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.