Cape May, NJ weather in January
Expect chilly weather with frequent rain and some snow in Cape May in January, with highs near 43°F and lows near 29°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 4.5 in. It is one of the coldest months in Cape May.
- Normal high
- 43°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.5 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 28°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:18 am / 4:47 pm | 7:06 am / 5:19 pm |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 10.2 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am32°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon39°Fdew point 26°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm36°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Dover AFB (33 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 45% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below21 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.2 in; a dry January brings about 2.5 in and a wet one about 4.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.5 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 50°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 37°F
- Wettest January1998: 5.7 in
- Driest January1992: 1.2 in
- Highest reading73°F (January 30, 2002)
- Lowest reading-1°F (January 19, 1994)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
January compared with December and February
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 43°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 29°F | 29°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 9.8 h | 10.8 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +2°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Williamsburg, VA151 mi · high 49°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Nags Head, NC209 mi · high 51°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Gettysburg, PA139 mi · high 38°F · 10 wet days
How Cape May ranks in January
- Normal high232nd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 3 in New Jersey
- Wet days247th driest of 378
- Comfortable days223rd most of 339
What to pack for Cape May in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 43°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.5 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 21 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 902 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Cape May in January?
The normal high is 43°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -1°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Cape May in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (5.7 in); the driest was in 1992 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Cape May in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 4.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is January a good time to visit Cape May?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Cape May (35 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Cape May 2 Nw (USC00281351), 2.0 mi NW of the city center, 20 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Dover AFB (USW00013707), 33 mi WNW of the city center, 23 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Millville Municipal Arpt (724075-13735), 31 mi NNW of the city center, 58 ft (51 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.