58°
Sunny
0%
24
Cape May County, NJ · Atlantic Ocean
Cape May
America's oldest seaside resort and a National Historic Landmark — a Victorian town of 600+ gingerbread homes, tree-lined streets, the Washington Street pedestrian mall, and lifeguarded Atlantic sand along the Promenade. Regular sunset-watching at Sunset Beach on the Bay side.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Swim advisory · NWS alert active · 58°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Weather
- 58°F air — chilly for a beach day
- 20 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 63°F water — chilly — expect a gasp entering
- 3.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
Safety
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued november 7 at 1:11pm est until november 8 at 9:00am est by nws mount holly nj
- Swim advisory — state environmental agency flagged water quality
24 /100
skip
0 Swim
36 Sunbathe
64 Walk
65 Photo
Best for photography today
Swim advisory: Closed for Season
Sampled at Harbor Lane and Bay, 0.8 mi from this beach.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued November 7 at 1:11PM EST until November 8 at 9:00AM EST by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 6 ft. * WHERE...Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 NM, Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 NM and Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 NM. * WHEN...Until 9 AM EST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
58°F
Clear
Wind
20 mph
NW
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
Air Quality
25 Good
Ozone · South Coastal
UV Peak
3 Moderate
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~67m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 02 PM
Tomorrow
61°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
63°F
Cold
Next High Tide
7:10 PM
4.9 ft · in 37m
Wave Height
3.9 ft
10s · SSE swell
Barometer
29.88 inHg
1012 hPa · buoy 44009
Water Quality
No recent sample
Last reading 4mo ago: clean
USGS · not a current condition
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:33 AM
Sunset
4:53 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:25 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 6:51 AM | High | 5.7 ft |
| 1:04 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:10 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:04 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:32 AM | High | 5.8 ft |
| 1:47 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:53 PM | High | 4.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:41 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 8:12 AM | High | 5.8 ft |
| 2:27 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 8:33 PM | High | 4.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:18 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 8:49 AM | High | 5.7 ft |
| 3:05 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 9:11 PM | High | 4.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:55 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 9:27 AM | High | 5.6 ft |
| 3:44 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 9:50 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:33 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 10:05 AM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 4:24 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 10:30 PM | High | 4.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:13 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 10:45 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 5:06 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 11:11 PM | High | 4.0 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8536110, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
61°
Sunny
1%
48
61°
Sunny
0%
49
64°
Sunny
0%
60
61°
Sunny
0%
59
59°
Chance Light Rain
33%
39
54°
Chance Light Rain
40%
19
What to Bring Today
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 20 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- critical Skip the swim Active swim advisory from MD DOE
- recommended Layers / windbreaker Only 58°F outside
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Metered street and paid lots.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on beach/promenade May 15 – Sep 15. Leashed Sep 15 – May 15.
Entry Fee
Daily ~$10, three-day $20, weekly $25, seasonal $40
Address
Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Cape May today?
Cape May shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Cape May dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on beach/promenade May 15 – Sep 15. Leashed Sep 15 – May 15.
Is there an entry fee at Cape May?
Daily ~$10, three-day $20, weekly $25, seasonal $40
Are there lifeguards at Cape May?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Cape May during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Cape May?
Amenities at Cape May include lifeguards, Promenade, Victorian architecture, Washington Street mall, restaurants, restrooms, bike rentals.
When is the water warmest at Cape May?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Cape May located?
Cape May is in Cape May County, NJ, at Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS