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Newport County, Rhode Island
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1974 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
1
Tornado reports
13
Hail reports
30
Floods since 1996
286
All events
5
Deaths
$8.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Newport County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 1 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
At the Newport Airport ASOS (KUUU) blizzard conditions occurred from 450 AM EST to 405 PM EST. Newport RI (UUU) wind observations ceased after 150pm, so end time estimated based on visibility since nearby observations indicated winds remained above 35 mph. The highest gust was 67…
High surf, on the order of 6 to 8 foot waves, knocked a 51 year old woman off the rocks, where she was fishing. She ended up drowning. Her 52 year old husband went into the water to save her but he ended up drowning as well. Very sad story.
At 1:52 PM EST the Automated Surface Observing System platform at Newport State Airport in Middletown measured a wind gust to 67 mph. At 2:24 PM EST an amateur radio operator in Newport reported a wind gust to 62 mph. At 3:20 PM EST, a tree fell on the front yard of a property ne…
A 58 year old Massachusetts man was swept away by high surf while fishing on rocks at Beavertail State Park in Jamestown, RI. His body was recovered from the surf along the rocky shoreline. Tropical Storm Bertha was spinning off the coast of North Carolina, churning up seas and s…
While Newport County's beaches didn't experience the same devastation as Washington County's, Superstorm Sandy affected the coastline there as well. The Point section of Newport flooded with six to twelve inches of ocean water during the morning high tide cycle. The Bowen's Wharf…
Five to eight inches of rain fell acros Newport County. Many basements were flooded in Jamestown, and Portsmouth. Several roads were flooded in Jamestown, Tiverton, and Portsmouth, including Route 24 at Main Street in Portsmouth, which was closed.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The rotary at the base of the Pell Bridge in Newport was flooded.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Aquidneck Ave at Wave Ave was flooded with DPW requested to assist.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The 1800 block of Rt 77 in Tiverton was completely flooded.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Generally 12 to 14 inches of snow fell with some of the higher amounts being 15 inches in Tiverton and 12.5 inches in Middleton.
Flood Flood
A section of Berkeley Ave was closed due to flooding.
Hail Hail
In Portsmouth quarter sized hail was reported.
High Wind High Wind
Winds generally gusted 40 to 55 mph. The strongest gusts were a 61 mph gust at a mesonet site in Rose Island at 9:35 AM EDT and a 58 mph gust from a mesonet site in Fogland at 9:24 AM EDT.
High Wind High Wind
A Weatherflow site on Rose Island gusted to 66 mph at 3:30 AM EST. A Weatherflow site in Fogland gusted to 63 mph at 2:47 AM EST.
Coastal Flood Coastal Flood
In Newport at 11:10 AM EST Ocean Ave in the Brenton Point area and Memorial Blvd from Eustis Ave to the Middletown line were closed.
High Wind High Wind
Winds generally gusted 45 to 60 mph. The strongest gust was recorded at 11:01 AM EST at the Newport ASOS (KUUU) with 64 mph.
Lightning Lightning
In Portsmouth, a house was hit by lightning on Slocum Road, causing a basement fire. Report relayed by amateur radio.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall amounts in Newport County ranged from 4.0 to 6.5 inches. Some specific amounts included: 6.5 inches in Portsmouth; 6.2 inches in Little Compton; 6.0 inches at the Newport Airport; 5.0 inches in both Middletown and Tiverton; and 4.0 inches in Jamestown.
Coastal Flood Coastal Flood
In Newport, at 633 AM, police reported that the Sachuest Point Refuge and Sachuest Point Road were flooded over by coastal flooding and, later, King Park was flooded. In Jamestown at 730 AM, a trained spotter reported water and debris in an unspecified roadway. At 815 AM, amateur…
High Wind High Wind
In Tiverton at 627 PM, the Weatherflow mesonet station at Fogland Beach recorded a wind gust to 67 mph. In Newport at 302 PM, the Weatherflow mesonet station at Rose Island recorded a wind gust to 58 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
In Tiverton, police reported a tree down on Lake Road. Report relayed by amateur radio.
High Wind High Wind
Winds generally were gusting to 55 to 75 mph in the heavier showers. At Halfway Rock, just south of Prudence Island, a Weatherflow mesonet site measured a gust to 68 mph at 449 AM EDT (349 AM EST). In Jamestown at 448 AM EDT (348 AM EST), fire department officials reported power …
High Wind High Wind
Winds generally gusted 40 to 60 mph. At Fogland Beach in Tiverton winds gusted to 66 mph at 5:13 AM EST. On Rose Island winds gusted to 54 mph at 7:59 AM EST.
Blizzard Blizzard
The Newport Airport ASOS (KUUU) reported blizzard criteria from 725 AM EST to 453 PM EST. The max gust from KUUU was 70 mph at 101 PM EST. Winds generally gusted 50 to 65 mph. Other max gusts were 64 mph in Tiverton at 953 AM EST and 59 mph on Rose Island at 104 PM EST. Snowfall …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Little Compton, police reported a tree down on Peckham Road and another tree down on Amesbury Lane.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Tiverton, a Weatherflow Mesonet station at Fogland Beach recorded a wind gust to 58 mph at 538 PM EST.
High Wind High Wind
In Tiverton at Fogland Beach, a Weatherflow mesonet station recorded a wind gust to 60 mph at 213 PM EST and 58 mph at 158 PM EST.
High Wind High Wind
Peak wind gusts in Newport County included 64 mph at Fogland Beach in Tiverton at 923 AM EDT (823 AM EST); 62 mph at the Newport Airport (KUUU ASOS) at 609 AM EDT; 60 mph at the Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton at 613 AM EDT; and 57 mph at both Middletown and Rose Island.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In Portsmouth, a large stretch of Fairview Lane was ripped up and destroyed due to flood waters rushing down the road and undermining the roadway. CoCoRAHS observers reported a total of 8.32 inches of rain in Portsmouth and 7.56 inches in nearby Jamestown.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In Middletown, Wood Road was flooded and impassable. A basement of a home also was flooded. A CoCoRAHS observer in Middletown recorded 6.42 inches of rain. CoCoRAHS observers reported a total of 8.32 inches of rain in nearby Portsmouth and 7.56 inches in nearby Jamestown.
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
Winds generally gusted to between 50 and 70 mph in Newport County. According to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, there were approximately 60 homes damaged in Newport County. In Little Compton at 527 AM EST, a tree was down on West Bay Road. In Middletown from 720-729…
High Wind High Wind
At 337 AM EST on March 2nd, a mesonet station at Fogland Beach recorded a wind gust to 61 mph. At 119 AM EST, a mesonet site at Rose Island recorded a gust to 58 mph. At the Newport State Airport, the ASOS (KUUU) had a strong wind gust of 53 mph at 153 AM EST.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall ranged from 4 to 7 inches in Newport County. The highest totals were 7.0 inches in Middletown and 6.0 inches in Little Compton.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall generally ranged from 6 to 14.3 inches. Some specific amounts included 14.3 in Tiverton, 8.0 inches in Little Compton, 7.0 inches in Middletown, and 6.5 inches in Portsmouth. Wind were gusting to 40 to 45 mph. The ASOS at Newport Airport (KUUU) reported a gust to 43 mph …
Strong Wind Strong Wind
In Middletown at 850 PM EST, a tree was down on Third Beach Road. At 1033 PM EST, the ASOS at the Newport Airport recorded a gust to 51 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Jamestown, a utility pole and wires were down on Beavertail Road. A large tree and wires were down on North Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Newport, about 1 mile south of Rose Island, there was a report forwarded by amateur radio operators, of a person on a sailboat that recorded a wind gust to 75 mph on the boat's anemometer. Do not know the brand of the equipment. According to an article on newportri.com/news, t…
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
In Tiverton, a mesonet site at Fogland Beach recorded a wind gust to 58 mph (50 kt) at 452 PM EDT. No reports of damage were received from Newport County, but it is likely that isolated tree or power line damage occurred.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
An off duty NWS employee reported significant street flooding near the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge. Water was up to the wheel wells of cars and had stranded several vehicles. Amateur radio operators also reported 18 to 24 inches of flooding on several streets and the Newport ro…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
On Washington Street near Newport Harbor, a large tree was down. A small sailboat was blown over in the harbor. Large branches were down, with power outages, on both Bellevue Avenue and Easton's Beach.
Flood Flood
In Narragansett, 12 to 18 inches of street flooding was reported on Beach Street.
Flood Flood
In Newport, there was up to 1 foot of flood waters on several roads. The Newport Public Library was closed due to flooding.
High Wind High Wind
At Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton a WeatherFlow station reported at wind gust of 58 mph at 358 PM EST (458 PM EDT).
High Wind High Wind
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…
Strong Wind Strong Wind
In Little Compton a large branch was down on wires on Ocean Drive.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
In Newport there was a large tree and power lines down on Kay Blvd.
High Wind High Wind
In Rose Island a mesonet site reported sustained winds of 43 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
In Middletown, a large tree was down on Paradise Avenue.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A small EF-0 tornado produced damage in Portsmouth, RI and lasted for only about one minute. Most of the damage was concentrated in the area from Prospect Farm Road to Sea Meadow Drive. The damage consisted of a few uprooted and snapped trees but there was also damage to the wall…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter in Newport reported a few trees down.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 | 11 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 1 |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 |
| 2014 | 9 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 | 8 | 0 |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 |
| 2008 | 8 | 0 |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 |
| 2006 | 8 | 0 |
| 2005 | 8 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 |
| 2002 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 14 | 0 |
| 1999 | 22 | 0 |
| 1998 | 20 | 0 |
| 1997 | 29 | 0 |
| 1996 | 19 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Newport County, measured to its path.
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