Editing Cape May County, New Jersey (section)

===Climate===
{{climate chart
|[[Cape May Court House, New Jersey]]
|28|42|3.32
|29|44|2.93
|35|51|4.26
|44|61|3.53
|53|70|3.53
|63|79|3.37
|68|85|3.70
|67|83|3.62
|61|78|3.27
|50|67|3.70
|41|57|3.29
|32|47|3.47
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNJ0075|title=Monthly Averages for Cape May Court House, New Jersey|publisher=[[The Weather Channel]]|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-date=July 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718001516/https://weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNJ0075|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Given its maritime influence and southernmost location within New Jersey, Cape May County has a more moderate climate than surrounding areas. During the summer, the county is often 3–5 degrees cooler, and 5–10 degrees warmer in the winter.<ref name="ac515"/> Much of the county is in [[Hardiness zone|USDA plant hardiness zone]] 7a/7b, with a small portion in the county's southeastern extreme in zone 8a. This equates to an average annual minimum temperature of {{convert|0|to|10|F|C}}.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|title=New Jersey|series=Plant Hardiness Zone Map|format=JPG|access-date=May 7, 2018|url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Images/72DPI/nj.jpg|archive-date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508121442/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Images/72DPI/nj.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref> The average temperatures in the county seat of Cape May Court House range from a low of {{convert|22|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|85|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-22|°F}} was recorded in January 1942 and a record high of {{convert|103|°F}} was recorded in July 1993. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.91|in}} in June to {{convert|4.68|in}} in August,<ref name="weather"/> and annual precipitation is around {{convert|40|in|mm|abbr=on}}. The region typically gets {{convert|10|to|15|in|abbr=on}} of snowfall each year, much less than the mountains of New Jersey.<ref>{{cite news|author=Amy Harris|title=The Average Climate of New Jersey|url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/average-climate-new-jersey-54523.html|access-date=April 25, 2018|newspaper=USA Today|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423003832/http://traveltips.usatoday.com/average-climate-new-jersey-54523.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Cape May County has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'').<ref>{{cite web|title=Koppen Climate Classification for the Conterminous United States|url=https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/koppen-climate-classification-for-the-conterminous-united-states63aa7/resource/b2bf2831-934f-4968-8ae5-72e989a8dfac|website=Data.gov|publisher=U.S. General Services Administration|access-date=April 25, 2018|archive-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062434/https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/koppen-climate-classification-for-the-conterminous-united-states63aa7/resource/b2bf2831-934f-4968-8ae5-72e989a8dfac|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the [[Trewartha climate classification]] this climate is ''Do'' (oceanic.) The county has windy conditions throughout the year.<ref name="wind">{{cite report|page=85|url=http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/home/genpub/capemayplan.pdf|publisher=Cape May County Planning Department|title=Cape May County Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan|date=April 21, 2008|access-date=April 25, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323103250/http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/home/genpub/capemayplan.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Owing to its location along the coast, Cape May County has experienced the effects of [[tropical cyclone]]s for centuries. In [[Strathmere, New Jersey|Whale Beach]] on [[Ludlam Island]], [[core sample]]s suggested the passage of an intense hurricane sometime between 1278 and 1438.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Donnelly J. P. |author2=S. Roll |author3=M. Wengren |author4=J. Butler |author5=R. Lederer |author6=T. Webb III |date=July 2001|title=Sedimentary evidence of intense hurricane strikes from New Jersey |journal=[[Geology (journal)|Geology]]|volume=29|issue=7|issn=0091-7613|pages=615–618|doi=10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0615:SEOIHS>2.0.CO;2|bibcode = 2001Geo....29..615D  }} [http://www.geo.brown.edu/georesearch/esh/QE/Publications/Geology2001/JDonnelly/NewJersey/NewJersey.htm Abstract] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030529/http://www.geo.brown.edu/georesearch/esh/QE/Publications/Geology2001/JDonnelly/NewJersey/NewJersey.htm |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> The [[1821 Norfolk and Long Island hurricane|next significant hurricane]] in the area was September 3, 1821. Around 1800 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] (2:00&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time (North America)|local time]]), the [[eye (cyclone)|eye]] of the hurricane crossed over Cape May, estimated as a [[List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes|Category 4]] on the [[Saffir–Simpson scale]]. It is estimated that an identical hurricane to the 1821 storm in the 21st century would cause over $1 billion in damage in Cape May County, and $107 billion in damage nationwide.<ref>{{cite web|author=Protectingnewjersey.org |year=2006 |title=New Jersey: Exposed and Unprepared |access-date=July 4, 2007 |url=http://www.protectingnewjersey.org/Index.asp?PFID=21&PID=79 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901234426/http://www.protectingnewjersey.org/Index.asp?PFID=21&PID=79 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 1, 2006 }}</ref> The [[Gale of 1878]] flooded Cape May County and produced {{convert|84|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} winds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/galeof78.htm|title=Re-Analysis of the Gale of '78 - Storm 9 of the 1878 Hurricane Season|author1=David Roth|author2=Hugh Cobb|date=May 27, 2000|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=March 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318014114/http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/galeof78.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> During the passage of [[Hurricane Gloria]] in 1985, Ocean City recorded a wind gust of {{convert|101|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Robert A. Case|volume=114|issue=7|pages=1395|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1985|journal=Monthly Weather Review|date=July 1, 1986|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1986)114<1390:AHSO>2.0.CO;2|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1985.pdf|access-date=November 30, 2012|publisher=American Meteorological Society|bibcode=1986MWRv..114.1390C|archive-date=February 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203143521/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1985.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Hurricane Sandy]] struck the state on October 31, 2012, causing at least $150 million in damage in the county from its high winds and high tides. At the terminal for the Cape May–Lewes Ferry in North Cape May, Sandy produced the highest tide on record at {{convert|8.9|ft|m|abbr=on}}, surpassing the previous record of {{convert|8.8|ft|m|abbr=on}} set by Hurricane Gloria.<ref>{{cite report|title=High Wind Event for Eastern Cape May County|publisher=National Climatic Data Center|access-date=April 4, 2018|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=417015|date=|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405025149/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=417015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tide">{{cite report|date=May 2016|title=Cape May County|publisher=Mount Holly, New Jersey National Weather Service|access-date=April 4, 2018|url=https://www.weather.gov/media/phi/capema.pdf|archive-date=June 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612043849/https://www.weather.gov/media/phi/capema.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cape May County has experienced a variety of other weather effects. In March 1962, a [[Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962|stalled coastal storm]] produced several days of extremely high tides along the barrier islands, which damaged the boardwalks of Cape May, Avalon, and Sea Isle City.<ref>{{cite news|author=Al Campbell|date=March 3, 2016|title=March 1962 Storm Left Its Mark|newspaper=Cape May County Herald|access-date=April 4, 2018|url=http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/weather/article_07a6683c-e17b-11e5-84ba-73db8493b6a8.html|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405102542/https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/weather/article_07a6683c-e17b-11e5-84ba-73db8493b6a8.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=March 3, 2012|title=The '62 Storm: How Bad Was It?|newspaper=Cape May County Herald|access-date=April 4, 2018|url=http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/weather/article_3ae3a8b5-4110-5244-89f6-3dac1e33aa58.html|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405142641/https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/weather/article_3ae3a8b5-4110-5244-89f6-3dac1e33aa58.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[1991 Perfect Storm]] produced high tides and [[Coastal erosion|beach erosion]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Margaret|last=Buchholz|author2=Larry Savadove|year=1993|title=Great Storms of the Jersey Shore|publisher=Down the Shore Publishing|isbn=0-945582-51-X|pages=148–150}}</ref> In January 2016, [[January 2016 United States blizzard|a blizzard]] nicknamed "Winter Storm Jonas" produced record high tides in the county, reaching {{convert|9.0|ft|m|abbr=on}} at the terminal for Cape May–Lewes Ferry, surpassing that of Hurricane Sandy. Nearly every municipality in the county reported damage, and in coastal towns, the beaches were severely eroded.<ref name="tide"/><ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Miller|author2=Nicholas Huba|date=January 29, 2016|title=Jonas' toll: $67 million and counting in Cape May County|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|access-date=April 4, 2018|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/jonas-toll-million-and-counting-in-cape-may-county/article_e46d41bc-c6b1-11e5-be5b-1f9b948ca220.html|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024808/http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/jonas-toll-million-and-counting-in-cape-may-county/article_e46d41bc-c6b1-11e5-be5b-1f9b948ca220.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1950, ten tornadoes have touched down in the county.<ref>{{cite report|title=Search Results for Cape May County|publisher=National Climatic Data Center|access-date=January 31, 2023|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=09&beginDate_dd=01&beginDate_yyyy=1950&endDate_mm=09&endDate_dd=30&endDate_yyyy=2023&county=CAPE%2BMAY%3A9&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=34%2CNEW+JERSEY|date=}}</ref>