Geography Cape May, New Jersey

cape may harbor seen devil s reach.

according united states census bureau, city had total area of 2.743 square miles (7.103 km), including 2.404 square miles (6.226 km) of land , 0.339 square miles (0.877 km) of water (12.35%). cape may low-lying; highest point, @ intersection of washington , jackson streets, 14 feet (4.3 m) above sea level.

unincorporated communities, localities , place names located partially or within city include poverty beach.

cape may borders west cape may borough, lower township, atlantic ocean, , delaware bay. cape may-lewes ferry provides transportation across delaware bay lewes, delaware.

cape may harbor, borders lower township , nearby wildwood crest allows fishing vessels enter atlantic ocean, created of 1911, after years of dredging completed harbor covers 500 acres (200 ha). cape may harbor fest celebrates life in , around harbor, 2011 event commemorating 100th anniversary of harbor s creation.

cape may southernmost point in new jersey; @ approximately same latitude washington, d.c.

climate

according köppen climate classification system, cape may has humid subtropical climate (cfa), typical of coastal new jersey, hot, humid summers , mild cool winters.

a panorama of cape may harbor.

precipitation distributed evenly throughout year. being southernmost point in new jersey, cape may has mild wintertime temperatures, january daily average temperature of 35.2 °f (1.8 °c). conversely, summer sees less extreme heat in places in state, making town popular place escape heat; on average there 12 days of 90 °f (32 °c)+ temperatures. snowfall averages 13.5 inches (34.3 cm) per season, december february. extremes in temperature have ranged −2 °f (−19 °c) on january 17, 1982 106 °f (41 °c) on july 7, 1966; since 1894, sub-0 °f (−18 °c) have occurred 4 times , 100 °f (38 °c)+ 7 times.

during summer months, frequent episodes of extreme humidity occur. rarely, heat index values exceed 100 °f (35 °c). during summer afternoons, sea breeze dominates coastline keeping high temperatures several degrees cooler compared areas farther inland. during nights, relatively mild ocean waters keep coastline several degrees warmer areas farther inland. on average, july annual peak thunderstorm activity. during winter months, wind chill values fall below 0 °f (-18 °c). on average, snowiest month of year february corresponds annual peak nor easter activity.

cape may in usda hardiness zone 7b similar parts of coastal virginia, making suitable location grow traditional mid atlantic plants including crepe myrtle, southern magnolia, loblolly pine, pond pine, , cherrybark oak. because of warmer wintertime temperatures, hardy palms including trachycarpus fortunei (chinese windmill palm) , needle palms work quite in landscape. wine grapes particularly well, given decent growing season.