High Surf — Washington, Rhode Island

2008-09-28 · Washington, Rhode Island

Event narrative

A newly married couple went to Black Point in Narragansett to watch and photograph the waves churned up by Hurricane Kyle. A wave swept the wife off the rocks, pulling her into the water. Her husband jumped into the water to save her. Both drowned.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm and then Hurricane Kyle moved east of Massachusetts on its trek towards Maine and Nova Scotia. The effects of Kyle were minimal on Southern New England with heavy rainfall and high surf the only concerns. Kyle, combined with a separate coastal storm that moved through Southern New England the day before, produced anywhere from two to seven inches of rain. This resulted in significant flooding across two counties in southeastern Massachusetts and flash flooding in Hartford County, Connecticut. In addition, the high surf enticed wave watchers to shore. A married couple went out to watch the waves at Black Point in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The wife slipped from the rocks and fell into the water, her husband jumped in to save her and was overcome by the waves himself. Both of them drowned and their bodies were recovered in the days following.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 137027. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.