2,492
Recorded events
5
Counties covered
15
Direct deaths
$135.2M
Property damage
Rhode Island severe weather history covers 2,492 recorded events across 5 counties between 1956 and 2026.
The Rhode Island severe weather history record is dominated by strong wind, which accounts for 17.3% of everything logged statewide across 0 counties. Statewide, recorded events have caused 15 direct deaths since 1950.
By hazard type
Rhode Island severe weather history by hazard
| Hazard | Events | Counties | Deaths | Damage | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | 431 | 0 | 1 | $725K | 1996–2025 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 346 | 5 | 0 | $3.4M | 1956–2025 |
| Heavy Snow | 339 | 0 | 0 | $11.4M | 1996–2026 |
| High Wind | 299 | 0 | 1 | $2.5M | 1996–2025 |
| Flood | 175 | 5 | 0 | $93.1M | 1996–2024 |
| Hail | 140 | 5 | 0 | $20K | 1956–2025 |
| Winter Storm | 138 | 0 | 0 | $497K | 2002–2022 |
| Heavy Rain | 127 | 5 | 0 | $30K | 1996–2022 |
| Flash Flood | 121 | 5 | 0 | $3.7M | 1996–2025 |
| Winter Weather | 104 | 0 | 0 | $102K | 1996–2020 |
| Lightning | 59 | 5 | 2 | $1.4M | 1997–2025 |
| Coastal Flood | 41 | 0 | 0 | $11.2M | 1997–2024 |
| Drought | 34 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 2012–2016 |
| Tropical Storm | 27 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 2008–2021 |
| Heat | 25 | 0 | 3 | $0 | 1998–2013 |
| Blizzard | 24 | 0 | 0 | $62K | 2006–2026 |
| Tornado | 20 | 5 | 0 | $5.0M | 1972–2024 |
| Excessive Heat | 10 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 2000–2025 |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 8 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 2015–2016 |
| Funnel Cloud | 7 | 3 | 0 | $0 | 1997–2004 |
| High Surf | 6 | 0 | 5 | $500 | 2003–2022 |
| Rip Current | 4 | 0 | 3 | $0 | 2010–2023 |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 3 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 1999–2000 |
| Storm Surge/Tide | 2 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 2011–2011 |
| Waterspout | 1 | 1 | 0 | $0 | 1996–1996 |
| Dense Fog | 1 | 0 | 0 | $0 | 2008–2008 |
County index
Most active counties
| County | Events | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 451 | 0 |
| Kent County | 184 | 0 |
| Washington County | 131 | 1 |
| Newport County | 80 | 0 |
| Bristol County | 70 | 1 |
Full index
Every county in Rhode Island
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many severe weather events are recorded in Rhode Island?
2,492 events are on record across Rhode Island, covering 5 counties between 1956 and 2026.
Which county in Rhode Island has the most severe weather on record?
Providence County leads Rhode Island with 451 recorded events. Ranking reflects reported events, so densely populated counties tend to report more than sparsely populated ones.
Where does the Rhode Island severe weather history data come from?
Totals are aggregated from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of United States severe weather reports, with FEMA and U.S. Census records providing risk and population context. Dates are UTC and recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Rhode Island Severe Weather History.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/state/rhode-island/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.