Alert archive / Rhode Island / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 35, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 4, 2026, 9:53 PM EDT for Washington County, Rhode Island. It was in force for 52 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 4, 2026, 9:53 PM EDT (01:53 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 4, 2026, 10:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 52 min
- Issued by
- NWS Boston/Norton, MA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
County Washington County, RI
The radar
The Boston radar (KBOX), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:55 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
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, 1.9 hours before the alert went out and 113 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
533
WUUS51 KBOX 050153
SVRBOX
RIC009-050245-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0035.260705T0153Z-260705T0245Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
953 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026
The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southern Washington County in Rhode Island...
* Until 1045 PM EDT.
* At 953 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles south of
Westerly, or 10 miles east of Fishers Island, moving east at 45
mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
* Locations impacted include...
Block Island.
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 and Long Island.
SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay away from
windows!
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service
office in Boston/Norton.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4114 7161 4116 7162 4124 7158 4123 7155
4119 7155 4115 7153
TIME...MOT...LOC 0153Z 283DEG 38KT 4123 7179
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
LegroWhat 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 38 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 38 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 48 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 29 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, 56 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, 46 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.
&&
LegroLocal storm report, Jul 4, 9:32 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
932 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Southington 41.60N 72.88W
07/04/2026 Hartford CT Fire Dept/Rescue
In Southington, multiple trees reported down
on I-84. Relayed via Amateur Radio.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 9:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Washington | 61 min |
| Jul 5, 2:24 AM EDT | Flood Watch | BOX | Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington | 60 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Rhode Island, 2026Every 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.