The moderating effect of the water also allows for a longer growing season. Autumn frosts usually occur about four weeks later here than in the North and the last spring frosts are about four weeks earlier, giving this region the longest growing season in New Jersey. In the Coastal Zone, continental and oceanic influences battle for dominance on daily to weekly bases. In autumn and early winter, when the ocean is warmer than the land surface, the Coastal Zone will experience warmer temperatures than interior regions of the state. In the spring months, ocean breezes keep temperatures along the coast cooler.
Sea breezes play a major role in the coastal climate.
When the land is warmed by the sun, heated air rises, allowing cooler air at the ocean surface to spread inland. They are most common in spring and summer. Coastal storms, often characterized as nor'easters, are most frequent between October and April. These storms track over the coastal plain or up to several hundred miles offshore, bringing strong winds and heavy rains. Rarely does a winter go by without at least one significant coastal storm and some years see upwards of five to ten.