Water temperature · New Jersey
Cape May water temperature
61°F16°C
No reading from the sensor in the last 12 hours: see the satellite reading.
Read Oct 30, 12:06 PM EDT at Cape May, 3.7 mi NW
The sea is 2°F cooler than usual for late October.
- Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit
The last 35 days
Daily satellite sea-surface temperature (NASA MUR, 1 km) at the nearest ocean point, 0.4 mi from town. Satellites read the top millimeter of water; a sensor a few feet down can differ by a degree or two.
Cape May water temperature by month
Warmest in August (75°F on average), coolest in February (40°F). The water averages 75°F or more from July to August.
Bars: the 2016–2025 average of each month (outlined: this month). Lines: the coolest and warmest year’s monthly average.
Month-by-month numbers and what to wear
| Month | Average | In the water |
|---|---|---|
| January | 42°F 5°C | A 6 mm wetsuit with a hood, or stay out |
| February | 40°F 5°C | A 6 mm wetsuit with a hood, or stay out |
| March | 44°F 7°C | A 5/4 mm wetsuit, booties, gloves and hood |
| April | 50°F 10°C | A 5/4 mm wetsuit, booties, gloves and hood |
| May | 59°F 15°C | Cold: a 3/2 mm full wetsuit |
| June | 68°F 20°C | Cool: a 2 mm shorty or spring suit |
| July | 75°F 24°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| August | 75°F 24°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| September | 73°F 23°C | Comfortable for most swimmers |
| October | 66°F 19°C | Cool: a 2 mm shorty or spring suit |
| November | 56°F 14°C | Very cold: a 4/3 mm wetsuit and booties |
| December | 47°F 8°C | A 5/4 mm wetsuit, booties, gloves and hood |
Tides at Cape May
Low tide leaves more beach; the water near shore warms fastest on a sunny incoming tide over the flats.
Questions
What is the water temperature in Cape May today?
The nearest sensor, Cape May (3.7 mi away), read 61°F at Oct 30, 12:06 PM EDT. This page updates every hour.
Is the water warmer or colder than usual?
The satellite reading on Oct 28 was 61°F, 2°F cooler than usual for late October (62°F is the 2016–2025 average for the date).
When is the water warmest in Cape May?
August, at about 75°F on average (2016–2025).
Is the water warm enough to swim in October?
The October average is 66°F: cool: a 2 mm shorty or spring suit.
Where the readings come from
The live reading is from Cape May (NOAA CO-OPS 8536110), 3.7 mi NW of Cape May, checked every hour. The daily and monthly figures are NASA JPL’s Multi-scale Ultra-high Resolution (MUR) sea-surface temperature, a 1 km satellite analysis, read through NOAA CoastWatch. All sources