Cape May in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Cape May sees average daytime highs around 43°F and overnight lows near 35°F, with 11.5 in of precipitation over about 29 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 49°F in early December to 43°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Cape May's weakest 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
- 43°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 35°F
- Precipitation
- 11.5 in
- 29 wet days
- Avg wind
- 13 mph
- Travel score
- 0.6
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Cape May in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 49°F in early December to 43°F by late February.
A typical winter day in Cape May reaches about 43°F and drops to 35°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Cape May
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 79 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Cape May weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) 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 Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Cape May gets around 11.5 in of rain and snow over 29 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 13 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min in early December to 11 hours by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 2.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Cape May
None of Cape May's seasonal hazards peak in winter. 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 winter a good time to visit Cape May?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Cape May.
What to pack for Cape May in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Cape May sees daytime highs around 43°F and nights near 35°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 29 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Cape May in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 43°F across winter — 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 Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 2. 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 Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter 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.