86°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
50%
26
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.
Thunderstorms · 50% rain · NWS alert active
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and 4am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Weather
- 86°F air — ideal beach weather
- 50% rain — rain likely at some point
Water
- 76°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
- 3.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- NWS alert active — tornado watch issued july 18 at 1:55pm edt until july 18 at 9:00pm edt by nws mount holly nj
14 /100
skip
0 Swim
40 Sunbathe
11 Walk
26 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Water level 0.8 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 2:13AM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 6 ft expected. * WHERE...Coastal waters from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet NJ out 20 NM, Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM, Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM and Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 NM. * WHEN...From noon today to 4 AM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Weather alert in effect
Tornado Watch issued July 18 at 1:55PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Atmosphere
Air Temp
86°F
Clear
Wind
15 mph
S
Rain
50%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 12 PM–03 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
83°F
Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
76°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
3.9 ft
5s · S swell
Rip Current Risk
Low
NWS SRF · PHI · NJZ024 · Issued Jul 18, 7:42 PM
Water Quality
Clean
3 cfu/100mL · Fecal Coliform
USGS · sampled 7mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:48 AM
Sunset
8:22 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:01 AM | High | 5.8 ft |
| 6:19 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 12:34 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 6:30 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:50 AM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 7:05 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 1:25 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 7:26 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:39 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 7:52 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 2:17 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 8:23 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:31 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 8:38 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 3:10 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 9:22 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:24 AM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 9:26 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 4:04 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 10:22 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:21 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 10:17 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 4:58 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 11:22 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:18 AM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 11:08 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 5:50 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8536110, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
83°
Mostly Sunny
14%
82
84°
Sunny
2%
85
86°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
70%
15
83°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
77%
7
83°
Chance Rain Showers
26%
71
83°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
15%
79
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 15 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 76°F
- optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 50% rain chance
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