Cape May is usually that dream of Victorian porches and salt air, but honestly, today is a different beast entirely. If you’re stepping out onto Beach Avenue, you’ve probably already realized that the thermometer is lying to you.
The high today peaked around 42°F, which sounds manageable for a Jersey January. But then the wind showed up. Right now, it’s a biting 26°F outside, and with the wind chill, it feels more like a brutal 10°F. Basically, if you aren't wearing a heavy parka and a windbreaker, the northwest gusts at 24 mph are going to cut right through you.
It’s one of those days where the sun looks beautiful through a window, but the reality on the ground is sharp.
What’s Actually Happening Out There
The sky is mostly clear with some periodic clouds drifting through, but don’t let the sunshine fool you into thinking it's a "brisk walk" kind of afternoon. We’re looking at a 25°F low tonight.
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Honestly, the real story isn't the temperature; it's the maritime conditions. The National Weather Service didn't put out a Gale Warning for fun. We are seeing west winds at the coast hitting 25 to 30 knots. If you were planning on taking a boat out or even just walking the jetty, maybe don't. The seas are running 4 to 6 feet, and there’s a legitimate chance of light freezing spray.
It’s cold. Really cold.
The Local Perspective on Today's Cape May Weather
You might see a few stray snow flurries. There was a 35% chance of snow earlier today, and while we’re down to a 5% chance tonight, it’s not impossible to see a few white flakes dancing under the streetlights.
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- Humidity: Sitting at 50%, so it's a dry cold.
- UV Index: It was a 2 earlier—totally negligible.
- Visibility: Mostly clear, but the wind is kicking up enough salt spray near the Cove to make things feel a bit hazy.
I’ve lived through enough Cape May winters to know that these northwest winds are the ones that really get you. They blow straight across the Delaware Bay, picking up speed and dropping the "feels like" temperature into the basement.
Why This Matters for Your Plans
If you're a photographer, the lighting is actually kind of incredible right now because the air is so scrubbed clean by the wind. But you’ll want those touch-screen gloves. For everyone else, tonight is a "stay by the fireplace at the Congress Hall or The Washington Inn" kind of night.
The barometric pressure is shifting as a strong cold front sweeps east across the waters. We’re in a transition phase where high pressure is trying to build in from the south, but it’s fighting a series of surface troughs. This means the wind isn't going anywhere until at least Friday morning.
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What to Do Next
If you’re in town, here is how to handle the next few hours:
- Check your pipes: With a low of 25°F and that wind chill, make sure any exposed outdoor spigots are covered.
- Watch the tide: High tide at the Cape May Inlet already passed this morning (around 5:28 AM), and with the Gale Warning in effect, the evening water levels might be a bit more erratic than the charts suggest.
- Layer up: Seriously. If you have to go out, use a shell layer. The 24 mph northwest wind is the primary "enemy" today.
Keep an eye on the sky for those periodic clouds, but expect the "feels like" 10°F to stick around through the night. It’s a classic, rugged Jersey shore winter day—beautiful to look at, but keep the heater on.