High Wind — Block Island, Rhode Island

2021-10-27 · Block Island, Rhode Island

Event narrative

Winds gusted to between 65 and 85 mph around daybreak. The highest gusts reported were: 85 mph at 602 AM EDT at the Block Island Jetty (Weatherflow mesonet); 77 mph at 655 AM EDT from the Block Island Cooperative Observer; and 77 mph at 619 AM EDT from a New Shoreham CWOP station. At 717 AM EDT, the AWOS at the Block Island Airport (KBID) recorded a gust to 63 mph.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure nor'easter underwent bombogenesis as it developed east of Nantucket on the 26th. It then moved west toward Nantucket Sound, before heading eastward again back out to sea on the 27th. Winds gusted to 60-90+ mph. More than one-half million power outages were reported...495,000 in MA and 96,800 in RI. Schools were closed for multiple days, as it took a while to clean up the downed trees/wires and to restore power.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 988029. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.