Alert archive / Rhode Island / River Flood Warnings in 2026

River Flood Warning 7, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

August 4, 2026Washington County, Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this river flood warning at Aug 4, 2026, 6:45 AM EDT for Washington County, Rhode Island. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 4, 2026, 6:45 AM EDT (10:45 UTC)
Expired
Aug 4, 2026, 10:42 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
Minor

County Washington County, RI

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:46 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The river

Written for the forecast point Wood River at Hope Valley (HOPR1). The gauge peaked at 5.04 ft at Aug 4, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT.

actionminormoderate246808/0408/05
Action stage
4.5 ft
Minor stage
5 ft
Moderate stage
7 ft
Major stage
9 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 01118000, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

The text

As transmitted.

027 
WGUS41 KBOX 041045
FLWBOX

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
645 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton MA has issued a 
Flood Warning for the following rivers in Rhode Island...

  Wood River At Hope Valley affecting Washington County.

For the Wood River...including Hope Valley...Minor flooding is 
forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.

The next statement will be issued this afternoon at 200 PM EDT.

&&

RIC009-041800-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FL.W.0007.260804T1045Z-260804T1800Z/
/HOPR1.1.ER.260804T0800Z.260804T1015Z.260804T1200Z.UU/
645 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING TO THIS AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Wood River at Hope Valley.

* WHEN...From this morning to this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...At 5.0 feet, In Richmond, floodwaters begin to pond onto 
  Wood River Drive. In Hopkinton off of Main Street, the Wood River 
  begins to flood Dow Park.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - At 6:15 AM EDT Tuesday the stage was 5.0 feet.
  - Bankfull stage is 5.0 feet.
  - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours
    ending at 6:15 AM EDT Tuesday was 5.0 feet.
  - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage
    this morning and continue falling to 2.9 feet early Friday
    morning.
  - Flood stage is 5.0 feet.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

LAT...LON 4143 7176 4160 7174 4160 7163 4144 7164


$$

Loconto
1 follow-up statement
048 
WGUS81 KBOX 041442
FLSBOX

Flood Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1042 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...The Flood Warning is cancelled for the following rivers in Rhode 
Island...

  Wood River At Hope Valley affecting Washington County.

RIC009-041545-
/O.CAN.KBOX.FL.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260804T1442Z/
/HOPR1.1.ER.260804T0800Z.260804T1015Z.260804T1237Z.UU/
1042 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The Flood Warning is cancelled for
  the Wood River At Hope Valley.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - At 10:15 AM EDT Tuesday the stage was 4.9 feet.
  - Bankfull stage is 5.0 feet.
  - Forecast...The river is expected to fall to 2.9 feet early
    Friday morning.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

LAT...LON 4143 7176 4160 7174 4160 7163 4144 7164


$$

Loconto

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this river flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this river flood warning went out at Aug 4, 4:39 AM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Dry and seasonable today, but summer heat and humidity returns Wed through the weekend. Diurnal scattered thunderstorms possible each day.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 4:39 AM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
439 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Forecast remains on track.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dry and seasonable today, but summer heat and humidity returns
  Wed through the weekend. Diurnal scattered thunderstorms
  possible each day.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Dry and seasonable today, but summer heat and
humidity returns Wed through the weekend. Diurnal scattered
thunderstorms possible each day.

A weak high pressure builds in today in the wake of a cold
front, bringing clearing skies and dry weather with high
temperatures in the low to mid 80s. Dew points begin to surge
into the mid 70s Wednesday, peaking Thursday and Friday, and
linger into the weekend as a Bermuda high builds in across the
western Atlantic Ocean. Prolonged southerly flow will advect
those warmer dew points into southern New England through the
second half of the week, leading to near oppressive humidity at
times. 925mb temperatures surge to near +22C each afternoon
this week, leading to high temps 85-90 every day. Combined with
dew points of 72-76, heat headlines are being considered through
the second half of the week and possibly into the weekend.

Regarding the thunderstorm potential later in the week... a few
weak, upper level disturbances passing through New England
combining with the high heat/humidity and just enough
instability will likely be enough to pop a few diurnal
showers/thunderstorms each day Thursday through the weekend.
PWATs anywhere from 1.75" to 2.10" will also provide enough
potential for storms to be water loaded with torrential
downpours.

&&

.AVIATION /08Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

06Z Update...

Through Tonight: High Confidence.

VFR. West winds 5-10 kts becoming SW after 18Z. Potential for a
late-day sea breeze for BOS. Mid to high level cloud deck
lingers along the Cape and Island terminals, dropping to MVFR
late tonight after sunset.

Wednesday: Moderate Confidence.

Generally VFR with southwesterly flow. Chances for dirunal
showers, but uncertain on where exactly they could pop.

KBOS Terminal...High confidence in TAF.

VFR. W winds become SW this morning with potential for a late-
day sea breeze.

KBDL Terminal...High confidence in TAF.

Outlook /Wednesday Night through Saturday/...

Wednesday Night: VFR.

Thursday: VFR. Breezy. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

Thursday Night: VFR.

Friday: VFR. Breezy. Chance SHRA, chance TSRA.

Friday Night: VFR. Slight chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

Saturday: VFR. Breezy. Chance SHRA, chance TSRA.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

SCA's continue for the outer waters as seas slowly subside
throughout the day. Winds generally below 10 kts, except a few
gusts up to 18 kts possible across the northern waters later
this afternoon. A Rip Current Statement remains in effect along
the southern coastal and Island communities today as rough seas
and longer period swells slowly subside.

Outlook /Wednesday Night through Saturday/...

Wednesday Night through Thursday Night: Winds less than 25 kt.
Areas of seas approaching 5 ft.

Friday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft.

Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Slight
chance of rain showers.

Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching
5 ft.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
MA...High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for MAZ020-023-024.
RI...High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for RIZ006>008.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for ANZ235-
     237-250-254.
     Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for ANZ255-
     256.

&&

DISCUSSION...McMinn
AVIATION...McMinn
MARINE...McMinn

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in Rhode Island, 2026Every river flood warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.