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Washington County, Rhode Island
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1959 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
3
Tornado reports
27
Hail reports
44
Floods since 1996
376
All events
5
Deaths
$33.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Washington County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 3 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.
Fifteen year old Jaimer Ico Gregorio from New London, Connecticut, was with his family at Dunes Park Beach in Westerly, Rhode Island, Thursday night when he went under the water and never resurfaced. There were no lifeguards on duty at the time. A search was launched on the eveni…
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.
The Rhode Island coastline in Washington County, stretching from Westerly to Narragansett was devastated by coastal flooding associated with Superstorm Sandy. Much of the coastline is composed of barrier beaches, very shallow strips of land with the Atlantic Ocean on the south si…
Five to ten inches of rain fell across Washington County, resulting in rises on the Pawcatuck River at Westerly and at Wood River Junction. The Pawcatuck River set a record of nearly fifteen and a half feet at Westerly and just over eleven feet at Wood River Junction. The Pawcatu…
Blizzard Blizzard
At the Westerly Airport ASOS (KWST) blizzard conditions occurred from 430 AM EST to 1110 AM EST. Wind observations ceased in the morning due to ASOS failure, so end time estimated based on visibility since nearby observations indicated winds remained above 35 mph. Generally 30-34…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Generally 7 to 12 inches of snow fell. Some of the highest amounts included 11.6 inches in Westerly and 11.5 inches in Charlestown.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Generally 11 to 15 inches of snow fell with some of the higher amounts being 15.1 inches in South Kingstown and 15.1 inches in North Kingstown.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds generally gusted 45-50 mph. In Hope Valley a tree was down blocking the road.
High Wind High Wind
In Richmond, trees were downed on wires on Shannock Hill Rd. In North Kingstown, there were downed powerlines on Exeter Rd.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In Charlestown, roads were closed due to flooding.
Hail Hail
In Richmond, quarter to half dollar sized hail fell.
Hail Hail
In Yarmouth 1.5 inch hail fell.
Hail Hail
In Westerly, 1.25 inch hail fell.
Flood Flood
The road was closed due to flooding at Bonnet Shores Rd and Bonnet Point Rd.
Flood Flood
Kersey Rd near Dale Elementary School was closed due to flooding.
Hail Hail
In Narragansett 2 inch hail was reported, as was 1.75 inch hail. In Jamestown 1.5 inch hail was reported.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Generally 3 to 9 inches of snow fell. Some notable accumulations included 9 inches in Richmond, 7 inches in North Kingstown, and 3.7 inches in Westerly.
High Wind High Wind
A spotter in Westerly reported a wind gust of 65 mph at 4:00 AM EST. At the Westerly Airport an airplane hangar was severely damaged at 6:30 AM EST. In North Kingstown at 6:38 AM EST there were trees down across the road on Fletcher Rd. There was also scattered tree damage along …
Coastal Flood Coastal Flood
Minor to moderate coastal flooding occurred during the morning high tide along the South Coast. Several roads were closed due to 1 to 3 feet of flooding in Westerly and other locations along the south coast. Flooding in Westerly and along the South Coast was exacerbated by a lack…
High Wind High Wind
A Weatherflow site on Block Island gusted to 60 mph at 12:10 AM EST. An AWOS at the Block Island Airport gusted to 56 mph at 3:15 AM EST.
Flood Flood
Places like Hope Valley and Ashaway received 4.91 inches and 4.49 inches of rain respectively. In Charlestown at 7:10 AM EST Charlestown Pond was out of its banks flooding Arches Rd. In Richmond at 7:50 AM EST Beaver River was out of its banks flooding Tug Hollow Rd at New London…
Coastal Flood Coastal Flood
In Westerly at 10:14 AM EST there was coastal flooding on Atlantic Ave at Winnapaug Rd which lasted until 11:30 AM EST. In Narragansett at 10:45 AM EST Narragansett Ave at Boston Neck Rd, Beach Rd by the town beach, and Ocean Ave were closed. Later, at 11:10 AM EST there was coas…
High Wind High Wind
Winds generally gusted 50 to 60 mph. The strongest gust was 72 mph in New Shoreham.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A Weatherflow station on the Block Island Jetty gusted to 62 mph.
Rip Current Rip Current
Missing 15 year old boy due to rip currents. A boat was requested to assist lifeguards doing the search. The search was eventually suspended.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Westerly, a tree was down on wires on Pleasant St.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Richmond, a tree and wires were down at the intersection of Kenyon Hill Trail and Switch Road.
Lightning Lightning
In Hopkinton, a house on Highview Avenue was struck by lightning, reportedly causing a small fire, which was quickly extinguished.
Hail Hail
A member of the public reported on social media that hail up to quarter size occurred in Westerly, along with frequent lightning. Report was relayed by amateur radio.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall totals in Washington County generally ranged from 5 to 8 inches. Some specific amounts included: 8.1 inches in South Kingstown; 7.5 inches in both North Kingstown and Richmond; 6.0 inches in both Charlestown and Exeter; and 5.4 inches in Westerly.
Coastal Flood Coastal Flood
In Westerly between 713 AM and 715 AM, Twitter video revealed coastal flooding on both Atlantic Avenue and Watch Hill Road. In Narragansett at 806 AM, coastal flooding caused Foddering Farm Road at Harbour Island Road to be flooded and impassable...and at 810 AM, Beach Street was…
High Wind High Wind
In Charlestown at 242 PM, the Weatherflow mesonet station at Ninigret Pond measured a wind gust to 65 mph. Also in Charlestown, at 515 PM, a CWOP station recorded a wind gust to 61 mph.
Flood Flood
In Narragansett, the emergency room entrance of South County Hospital was flooded. Boston Neck Rd. (Rt 1A) near Narragansett Ave was closed due to flooding. Several inches of street flooding was reported along the Rt. 1 onramp past the rotary. Basements were reported flooded on B…
Flood Flood
In New Shoreham, 6 to 12 inches of street flooding was reported on Corn Neck Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In the Hope Valley section of Hopkinton, amateur radio reported that a large tree fell on top of a shed, destroying the shed. Time estimated by radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Richmond, a tree was down on Gardiner Road and additional trees and wires were down off of Gardiner Road and Hoxsie Road.
High Wind High Wind
In Narragansett at Point Judith, a Weatherflow mesonet station recorded a wind gust to 79 mph at 450 AM EDT (350 AM EST). In Narragansett at 503 AM EDT (403 AM EST), the fire department reported a utility pole and wires down on Sand Hill Cove Road...and at 515 AM EDT (415 AM EST)…
Blizzard Blizzard
The Westerly Airport ASOS (KWST) met blizzard criteria from 911 AM EST to 1146 AM EST, from 1153 AM EST to 301 PM EST, and from 420 PM EST to 453 PM EST. The maximum gust from KWST was 44 mph at 1253 PM EST. Winds generally gusted 40 to 60 mph. The strongest gusts were 64 mph in …
High Wind High Wind
On the Block Island Jetty there was a wind gust to 62 mph. In New Shoreham a mesonet site reported a gust to 58 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
In Richmond at 630 AM EST a tree was down on Carolina Nooseneck Rd. In North Kingstown at 640 AM EST a tree was blocking School St.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall ranged from 4 to 6 inches with the highest amount (6 inches) reported in Westerly and Hope Valley.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
At approximately 518 PM EST, a tornado touched down just southwest of Dillon Avenue in North Kingstown. Several large, healthy hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped, while a few standing trees were sheared at their tops. The tornado then crossed over Route 102 onto Himes Street…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Note... this is a continuation of a tornado that began in Stonington, CT (New London County). At approximately 4:54 PM EST on Saturday, November 13, a tornado touched down on Robinson Street in the Pawcatuck neighborhood of Stonington, CT. Several hardwood trees were uprooted or …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In Richmond, a tree and wires were down on Tall Timbers Drive.
High Wind High Wind
A Weatherflow mesonet station at the University of Rhode Island in North Kingstown recorded a wind gust to 60 mph at 119 PM EST. In Richmond at 141 PM EST, a tree was down on power lines on Job Drive.
High Wind High Wind
Winds gusted to 60 to 77 mph in Washington County. At 639 AM EDT (539 AM EDT) on the 27th, a Weatherflow mesonet site at the University of Rhode Island in North Kingstown recorded a gust to 77 mph. At 704 AM EDT (604 AM EST) on the 27th, a Weatherflow mesonet station at the tip o…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
In the Watch Hill section of Westerly, a wind gust to 62 mph was measured during a thunderstorm.
Hail Hail
Dime size hail fell in Richmond, RI for 5 minutes.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 13 | 0 |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 | 11 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 2 |
| 2020 | 18 | 0 |
| 2019 | 17 | 0 |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 | 23 | 0 |
| 2015 | 26 | 0 |
| 2014 | 9 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 15 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 | 10 | 0 |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 0 |
| 2007 | 7 | 0 |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 |
| 2005 | 13 | 0 |
| 2004 | 6 | 0 |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 13 | 0 |
| 1999 | 19 | 0 |
| 1998 | 22 | 0 |
| 1997 | 19 | 0 |
| 1996 | 20 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Washington County, measured to its path.
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