Alert archive / Rhode Island / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 34, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

July 4, 2026Washington County, Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 4, 2026, 9:29 PM EDT for Washington County, Rhode Island. It was in force for 61 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Jul 4, 2026, 9:29 PM EDT (01:29 UTC)
Expired: Jul 4, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT
In force: 61 min
Issued by: NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Damage threat: Considerable
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 70.0 mph

County Washington County, RI

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:30 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 4, 9:32 PM EDT	MARINE TSTM WIND 48	3 Sw Westerly Ap, RI	At the Watch Hill Bay Yacht Club in Westerly, RI, 48 mph wind gusts were recorded. Relayed via Amateur Radio.
Jul 4, 9:42 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Sw Westerly Ap, RI	In Watch Hill, reports of multiple boats run aground. Relayed via Amateur Radio.
Jul 4, 9:45 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 E Ashaway, RI	In Ashaway, trees were reported down and blocking the road. Relayed via Amateur Radio.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 13 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jul 4, 7:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	3 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 00:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 106 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 1105 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -28 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1723 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 100 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 144 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 3.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

191 
WUUS51 KBOX 050129
SVRBOX
RIC009-050230-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0034.260705T0129Z-260705T0230Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
929 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Washington County in Rhode Island...

* Until 1030 PM EDT.

* At 928 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Westerly, or 
  near Mystic, moving southeast at 40 mph. There is an additional 
  line of thunderstorms approaching from Salem through Niantic.

  HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect significant wind damage to trees, power lines, 
           mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include...
  South Kingstown, Westerly, Narragansett, Hopkinton, Charlestown,
  and Richmond.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

This is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. This storm is producing 
widespread wind damage across southeast Connecticut. SEEK SHELTER 
NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows!

Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground
lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately.
Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can
hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4130 7188 4132 7188 4133 7189 4132 7185
      4134 7183 4141 7184 4142 7181 4142 7180
      4152 7179 4147 7140 4135 7148 4128 7184
TIME...MOT...LOC 0128Z 293DEG 34KT 4134 7186 

THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...70 MPH

$$

Legro

2 follow-up statements

824 
WWUS51 KBOX 050216
SVSBOX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1016 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

RIC009-050230-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-260705T0230Z/
Washington RI-
1016 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY...

At 1016 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 14 miles east of
Block Island, moving southeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

Locations impacted include...
South Kingstown, Westerly, Narragansett, Hopkinton, Charlestown, and
Richmond.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4130 7188 4132 7188 4133 7189 4132 7185
      4134 7183 4141 7184 4142 7181 4142 7180
      4152 7179 4147 7140 4135 7148 4128 7184
TIME...MOT...LOC 0216Z 293DEG 34KT 4116 7130 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Legro

599 
WWUS51 KBOX 050234
SVSBOX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1034 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

RIC009-050243-
/O.EXP.KBOX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-260705T0230Z/
Washington RI-
1034 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY HAS
EXPIRED...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been allowed to expire.  However gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM EDT for
Rhode Island.

LAT...LON 4130 7188 4132 7188 4133 7189 4132 7185
      4134 7183 4141 7184 4142 7181 4142 7180
      4152 7179 4147 7140 4135 7148 4128 7184
TIME...MOT...LOC 0233Z 293DEG 34KT 4110 7112 

$$

Legro

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 4, 7:15 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Significant heat and humidity continues for the rest of this afternoon and evening. Scattered showers and thunderstorms possible through the evening. A storm or two may produce strong to damaging wind gusts.
Cooler temperatures are forecast for the first half of the week. Temperatures have the potential to be much cooler as a soaking rain is becoming more likely in the late Sunday through Tuesday time frame.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 7:15 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
715 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes with this forecast update.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Significant heat and humidity continues for the rest of this
  afternoon and evening. Scattered showers and thunderstorms
  possible through the evening. A storm or two may produce
  strong to damaging wind gusts.

- Cooler temperatures are forecast for the first half of the
  week. Temperatures have the potential to be much cooler as a
  soaking rain is becoming more likely in the late Sunday
  through Tuesday time frame.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Significant heat and humidity continues for the
rest of this afternoon and evening. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms possible through the evening. A storm or two may
produce strong to damaging wind gusts.

Hot and humid conditions ongoing across southern New England,
with temperatures and heat indices alike well into the mid-to-
upper 90s. Heat Advisory in effect for northern CT, majority of
MA, and RI until 8 PM EDT this evening.

Elsewhere, convection is continuing across upstate NY and
central/south VT. This activity is trying to "split the gap"
between southern MA/northern CT/RI and northeastern MA. The
northeastern MA solution is winning at the moment, with a
cluster of storms crossing over into parts of Essex County as of
2:45 PM EDT.

High-resolution guidance has been rather ugly in trying to
picture how the rest of this afternoon and evening unfolds.
Overall, ultimately think that this splits up into two different
"events" (such that they are): this afternoon between now and
5-6 PM, and another between 8-11 PM. Firework shows this evening
could be dicey at times, particularly for eastern MA. Showers
and storms move offshore by 2 AM EDT at the latest.

Cold front due before sunrise Sunday morning, where a wind shift
from the NNE will kick in, veering to the ENE throughout the
day. Highs much more reasonable in the low-to-mid 80s.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Cooler temperatures are forecast for the first
half of the week. Temperatures have the potential to be much
cooler as a soaking rain is becoming more likely in the late
Sunday through Tuesday time frame.

High confidence remains that temps will cool down and return to
more seasonable summer readings thru next week. For starters
850 mb temps are forecast to cool to between +12 to +15C. That
will be enough to get temps back into the 80s on its own.
Dewpoints are also forecast to cool down as well, which will
make things feel more comfortable than it has been.

Temps may also be much cooler if we can get substantial cloud
cover and rain into the forecast area. Overnight guidance has
doubled the number of ensemble members with more than 1 inch of
QPF. Now nearly all of the ECMWF ensemble members are in that
camp around BDL, with roughly half of members greater than 1
inch as you move northeast to BOS. However the GEFS has also
moved on board with roughly half of all members at or above 1
inch QPF across southern New England. Deterministic model
guidance is forecasting mid level warm advection to produce an
area of frontogenesis, giving this a little more synoptic
support for rainfall than the more typical scattered summertime
convective pattern to rainfall. NBM PoP looks pretty good at
this range, with categorical across the southwestern forecast
area and likely farther northeast, given the timing uncertainty.
Rain could begin as early as late Sun night and continue thru
Tue. Right now 6 hr FFG across much of the forecast area is at
least 3 inches, so I am not anticipating flooding unless we see
guidance really start to ramp up QPF numbers.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

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

00Z TAF Update...

Today through Sunday...High confidence.

VFR conditions dominate through Sunday except during any TSRA.
Storms should move off the northeastern shore by 01-02z, but
moving into western CT/MA 00-02z. Storms should move eastward
off the Cape/Islands by 06Z at the latest tonight. Frontal
passage expected before sunrise Sunday morning, where a wind
shift from the NNE is expected. Winds will continue to veer
towards the ENE throughout the day.

KBOS Terminal...Moderate confidence in TAF. Uncertainty
surrounding thunderstorm coverage and duration.

KBDL Terminal...Moderate confidence in TAF. Uncertainty
surrounding thunderstorm coverage and duration.

Outlook /Monday through Thursday/...

Monday: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy. SHRA
likely, slight chance TSRA.

Monday Night: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy.
SHRA likely, slight chance TSRA.

Tuesday: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy. SHRA
likely, chance TSRA.

Tuesday Night: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy.
Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

Wednesday: VFR. Slight chance SHRA.

Wednesday Night: VFR.

Thursday: VFR. Breezy.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

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

Today through Sunday...High confidence.

A relatively weak pressure gradient will keep winds/seas below small
craft advisory thresholds this holiday Weekend. Some 20+ knot
WNW wind gusts over the land this afternoon may result in some
nearshore chop...but no headlines will be needed for the waters
this weekend with seas generally 3 feet or less.

Outlook /Monday through Thursday/...

Monday: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers, slight
chance of thunderstorms.

Monday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching
5 ft. Rain showers likely, slight chance of thunderstorms.

Tuesday: Moderate risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with
gusts up to 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Rain showers likely, chance
of thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Chance
of rain showers, slight chance of thunderstorms.

Wednesday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Chance of
rain showers.

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

Thursday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for CTZ002>004.
MA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for MAZ002>023-026.
RI...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for RIZ001>007.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Guest
AVIATION...McMinn/Guest
MARINE...Guest

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 4, 8:05 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
805 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0740 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 W Burlington          41.75N 73.00W
07/04/2026  M56 MPH          Hartford           CT   Public

0749 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Burlington              41.77N 72.97W
07/04/2026                   Hartford           CT   Fire Dept/Rescue

            In Burlington, CT, trees and wires down on
            Route 4. Relayed via Amateur Radio.

0755 PM     Hail             Bristol                 41.68N 72.94W
07/04/2026  M1.75 Inch       Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

            In Bristol, golf ball sized hail fell.

0759 PM     Hail             1 W Plainville          41.67N 72.91W
07/04/2026  M1.25 Inch       Hartford           CT   Public

            In Plainville, Half Dollar sized hail fell.

&&

Local storm report, Jul 4, 8:24 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
824 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0759 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bristol                 41.68N 72.94W
07/04/2026                   Hartford           CT   Fire Dept/Rescue

            In Bristol, power lines were reported down
            and on fire. Relayed via Amateur Radio.

0759 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bristol                 41.68N 72.94W
07/04/2026                   Hartford           CT   Fire Dept/Rescue

            In Bristol, multiple trees were reported
            down across town. Relayed via Amateur Radio.

0807 PM     Hail             New Britain             41.68N 72.79W
07/04/2026  M1.75 Inch       Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

            In New Britain, golf ball sized hail was
            reported. Relayed via Amateur Radio.

&&

Local storm report, Jul 4, 8:57 PM EDT, 32 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
857 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0807 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Southington             41.60N 72.88W
07/04/2026                   Hartford           CT   Law Enforcement

            In Southington, multiple trees and wires
            down blocking Andrew St. Relayed via Amateur
            Radio.

0840 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bristol                 41.68N 72.94W
07/04/2026                   Hartford           CT   Fire Dept/Rescue

            In Bristol, multiple power lines down across
            town. Relayed via Amateur Radio.

&&

Local storm report, Jul 4, 9:07 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
907 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0907 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 4 S South Kingstown     41.37N 71.54W
07/04/2026  M42 MPH          ANZ237             RI   Mesonet

            Mesonet on Matunuck Beach.

&&

Legro

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 4, 9:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BOX	Washington	52 min
Jul 5, 2:24 AM EDT	Flood Watch	BOX	Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington	60 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Rhode Island, 2026 Every severe thunderstorm 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.