High Wind — Newport, Rhode Island

2020-02-07 · Newport, Rhode Island

Event narrative

In Little Compton, the mesonet site at Sakonnet Vineyards measured a gust to 74 mph at 333 PM EST. At 302 PM EST, a mesonet site at Newport recorded a gust to 62 mph. Earlier, at 238 PM EST, the ASOS at Newport Airport recorded a gust to 53 mph. In Jamestown at approximately 3 PM EST, the media reported that a copper roof was blown off of a signal building next to Beavertail Lighthouse. In Newport between 330 PM and 533 PM EST, multiple trees were reported down across town. In Middletown at 426 PM EST, a large tree was down on Boulevard East.

Wider weather episode

Powerful low pressure moved from eastern Pennsylvania across central Connecticut and central Massachusetts on February 7, 2020. A southerly jet of 85 to 95 mph was just above the surface at 925 mb. Damaging winds occurred across much of eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island with some damage reported farther to the west.

There were widespread power outages and numerous trees down, some falling on homes and vehicles.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 875191. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.