Average Ocean Temperatures for New Jersey
Average ocean temperatures along the New Jersey coast are listed below for each month in degrees Fahrenheit and degrees Celsius.
The Atlantic ocean off New Jersey gets quite chilly during winter. The water temperature averages just 35 °F (2 °C) in February at Atlantic City.
But come spring, the sea warms up rapidly. By summer, the ocean at New Jersey beaches is hot enough for an enjoyable swim. The temperature usually reaches 74 °F (23 °C) at Cape May in late July and early August.
Actual ocean temperatures do of course vary from year to year depending upon the weather and the flow of ocean currents.
By late spring, the Atlantic at Cape May in the south of the state has a substantial heat gain over places farther north. Until the end of September, Cape May's water stays a little warmer than the ocean at Atlantic City and Sandy Hook.
These coastal water temperatures are averages compiled by the US National Oceanographic Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Cape May | Atlantic City | Sandy Hook | |
---|---|---|---|
January | 37 | 37 | 37 |
February | 37 | 35 | 36 |
March | 42 | 42 | 40 |
April | 50 | 48 | 46 |
May | 59 | 56 | 55 |
June | 68 | 63 | 62 |
July | 73 | 70 | 69 |
August | 74 | 73 | 72 |
September | 72 | 70 | 68 |
October | 61 | 61 | 59 |
November | 52 | 53 | 51 |
December | 42 | 44 | 43 |
Annual | 55 | 54 | 53 |
Cape May | Atlantic City | Sandy Hook | |
---|---|---|---|
January | 3 | 3 | 3 |
February | 3 | 2 | 2 |
March | 6 | 6 | 4 |
April | 10 | 9 | 8 |
May | 15 | 13 | 13 |
June | 20 | 17 | 16 |
July | 23 | 21 | 21 |
August | 23 | 23 | 22 |
September | 22 | 21 | 20 |
October | 16 | 16 | 15 |
November | 11 | 12 | 11 |
December | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Annual | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Reference
National Oceanographic Data Center. NOAA. NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide (CWTG).