Alert archive / Rhode Island / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 52, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

August 13, 2026Kent County, Newport County, Washington County, Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 13, 2026, 6:43 PM EDT for Kent County, Newport County, Washington County, Rhode Island. It was in force for 32 min. 1 report 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
Aug 13, 2026, 6:43 PM EDT (22:43 UTC)
Expired
Aug 13, 2026, 7:15 PM EDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.88 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Kent County, RI, Newport County, RI, Washington County, RI

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:44 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 13, 7:00 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGNorth Kingstown, RIIn North Kingstown, a tree was blown down. Report 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 one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 17 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 nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 159 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-08-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1186 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-08-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
1186 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
561 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
42 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
1.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

488 
WUUS51 KBOX 132243
SVRBOX
RIC003-005-009-132345-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0052.260813T2243Z-260813T2345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
643 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026

The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northeastern Washington County in Rhode Island...
  Southern Newport County in Rhode Island...
  Southeastern Kent County in Rhode Island...

* Until 745 PM EDT.

* At 643 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near East
  Greenwich, or near West Warwick, moving southeast at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

* Locations impacted include...
  Warwick, Coventry, South Kingstown, West Warwick, North Kingstown,
  Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown, Narragansett, East Greenwich,
  Richmond, Exeter, West Greenwich, Jamestown, Little Compton,
  Gosnold, and Prudence Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4139 7092 4138 7095 4146 7103 4143 7142
      4140 7144 4159 7172 4173 7158 4140 7090
      4138 7090 4136 7086 4135 7087
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 307DEG 29KT 4162 7158 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

FT
2 follow-up statements
241 
WWUS51 KBOX 132259
SVSBOX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
659 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026

RIC003-005-009-132345-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0052.000000T0000Z-260813T2345Z/
Washington RI-Newport RI-Kent RI-
659 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON...SOUTHERN NEWPORT AND SOUTHEASTERN KENT
COUNTIES...

At 658 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over North
Kingstown, moving southeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Warwick, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, Newport, Portsmouth,
Middletown, Narragansett, East Greenwich, Richmond, Exeter,
Jamestown, Little Compton, and Prudence Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4153 7163 4166 7147 4142 7095 4140 7096
      4142 7099 4142 7098 4144 7101 4143 7141
      4140 7144
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 307DEG 29KT 4155 7145 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

FT
516 
WWUS51 KBOX 132315
SVSBOX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
715 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026

RIC003-005-009-132325-
/O.CAN.KBOX.SV.W.0052.000000T0000Z-260813T2345Z/
Washington RI-Newport RI-Kent RI-
715 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON...
SOUTHERN NEWPORT AND SOUTHEASTERN KENT COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.  However gusty winds and
heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

LAT...LON 4153 7163 4166 7147 4142 7095 4140 7096
      4142 7099 4142 7098 4144 7101 4143 7141
      4140 7144
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 307DEG 29KT 4149 7135 

$$

FT

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 Aug 13, 3:33 PM EDT, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue this afternoon and will be possible again tomorrow afternoon.
  • Dry and pleasant weekend in store for the region.
  • Rain, possibly heavy at times, Sunday night into Monday morning.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 3:33 PM EDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
333 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Showers and storms remain possible this afternoon, diminishing into
tonight. Some have overachieved and indicated severe features,
which will continue to be monitored.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue this afternoon
  and will be possible again tomorrow afternoon.

- Dry and pleasant weekend in store for the region.

- Rain, possibly heavy at times, Sunday night into Monday
  morning.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Spotty showers and thunderstorms continue this
afternoon and will be possible again tomorrow afternoon.

Spotty showers and thunderstorms have popped up this afternoon in SE
MA and along the south shore as a surface front pushes through the
region. Interactions with the sea breeze boundary have also
ramped these up, some turning severe. Showers and storms have
also popped up just NW of MA, moving SE which may end up
impacting interior MA. Winds have already shifted more NW in
areas behind the front. These showers and storms will continue
to pop up through the rest of the afternoon but will diminish
heading into tonight. A thunderstorm risk exists for tomorrow as
well, though the risk of them turning severe is low and limited
based on the latest CAMs.

Following the front, drier air will be ushered into the region. This
will bring PWATs closer to an inch, diminishing further following
Friday's cold front. HREF guidance has values falling to as low as
around 0.5". The chance for isolated showers and storms returns in
the afternoon tomorrow, though  Temperatures will remain seasonable
with highs in the 80s. Lows tonight will dip into the mid 50s, then
cooler tomorrow night with a greater possibility for radiational
cooling. Urban areas will remain slightly warmer.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Dry and pleasant weekend in store for the region.

Sprawling continental high pressure builds S from Canada this
weekend leading to mild and pleasant days and cool nights.
Airmass will be quite dry with column-average PWATs falling to
0.4-0.5 inches. This fall-like airmass will be a welcome break
from our recent stretch of humidity where dew point temperatures
have been in the upper 60s to low 70s for the past several
weeks. It will be a mild stretch with the early August sun
bringing temperatures near or slightly below seasonable levels,
ranging from the upper 70s to lower 80s. Saturday night into
Sunday morning, clear skies and light winds provide favorable
conditions for effective radiational cooling. Lows Saturday
night range from the low to mid 50s for the majority of the CWA
and near 60 closer to urban centers. Some guidance even suggests
low in the upper 40s across portions of Northern Massachusetts.

High pressure moves offshore early Sunday, allowing for an
increasing SWrly return flow. The SW winds bring the return of 60s
dewpoints though temperatures remain comfortable with highs in the
upper 70s. Clouds will be on the increase as a shortwave and
associated frontal system approach from the west later Sunday
afternoon into the evening. Guidance shows a low level jet
developing and bringing elevated PWATs over the region after dark
Sunday. More details about this rainfall threat in the next key
message.

KEY MESSAGE 3...Rain, possibly heavy at times, Sunday night into
Monday morning.

The next opportunity for rainfall comes during the second half of
Sunday into Monday. However, there remains uncertainty regarding
rainfall amounts, as the best forcing is associated with the surface
low and track variability makes it difficult to pin down where the
greatest rainfall will occur. This is worth monitoring, as global
guidance is in agreement that PWATs may exceed 2 inches, indicating
the potential for heavy rainfall. This is also supported by a
Marginal Risk (level 1 of 4) for excessive rainfall. Global
ensembles highlight areas north of I-90 as having the greatest
likelihood for measurable rainfall, with a 40-60 percent probability
of at least a half inch of rain between Sunday evening and Monday
evening. That said, if rainfall becomes more convective, localized
totals could be higher. One positive is that this system appears
progressive, with the cold front clearing east of New England on
Monday. Drier air then advects in from the northwest, leading to
another dry stretch from the latter half of Monday through Tuesday
and Wednesday as surface high pressure builds back into the region.
During this time, temperatures are expected to remain seasonable,
with highs in the lower to middle 80s and tolerable humidity as dew
points remain in the lower 60s.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

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

Rest of Today...Moderate confidence.

Chance for SHRA/TS remains through this afternoon, and we have
even seen one storm over the south shore pop up. CU out across
much of E to SE MA is quite agitated, so this will continue to
be monitored through the day. Spotty coverage continues to be
the expectation. Winds have started shifting more WNW/NW and
will continue to do so from W to E as the afternoon goes on and
the front moves through. Winds should generally remain around
or below 10 kt.

Tonight...High confidence.

Any lingering SHRA dissipates early, with VFR conditions prevailing
thereafter. Low probability of some patchy fog in the
CT Valley a little before sunrise. NW winds 5-10 kt.

Friday...High confidence.

VFR. Low probability of an isolated afternoon thunderstorm across
interior southern New England, so not included in TAFs at this
time; otherwise, dry. NW winds 8-12 kt.

Friday Night...High confidence.

VFR. Light NW to N winds that may go calm in some areas,
particularly in the interior. Given the drier conditions,
probability for fog in the usual areas is low at this time.

KBOS Terminal...High confidence.

KBDL Terminal...High confidence.

Outlook /Saturday through Tuesday/...

Saturday through Saturday Night: VFR.

Sunday: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Breezy. Chance
SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

Sunday Night: MVFR/IFR conditions possible. Breezy. SHRA,
chance TSRA.

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

Monday Night through Tuesday: VFR.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

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

Through Friday Night...High confidence.

Isolated showers and thunderstorms will remain possible over the
waters, particularly around the Cape and south shore. Winds
continue shifting NW as the front moves over the waters through
this evening, sustained at 10-15 kt. This will continue through
Friday as well. Winds shift more N Friday night. Outside of any
spotty afternoon showers and storms, conditions will remain dry.

Outlook /Saturday through Tuesday/...

Saturday through Saturday Night: Winds less than 25 kt.

Sunday: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain showers.

Sunday Night: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with
gusts up to 25 kt. Local rough seas. Rain showers likely,
slight chance of thunderstorms.

Monday: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up
to 25 kt. Areas of rough seas. Chance of rain showers.

Monday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching
5 ft. Slight chance of rain showers.

Tuesday: Winds less than 25 kt.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
MA...None.
RI...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Hrencecin/FT
AVIATION...BW/Hrencecin/FT
MARINE...Hrencecin/FT

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 13, 5:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
542 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026

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

0240 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Middleborough           41.90N 70.93W
08/13/2026                   Plymouth           MA   Amateur Radio

            In Middleborough, a 6" tree limb was down on
            Chestnut St.

0249 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 4 NE Plymouth           42.00N 70.63W
08/13/2026  M52 MPH          Plymouth           MA   Public

            Personal Weather Station.

0300 PM     Hail             Bourne                  41.73N 70.61W
08/13/2026  M0.75 Inch       Barnstable         MA   Amateur Radio

0455 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Wilbraham               42.14N 72.44W
08/13/2026                   Hampden            MA   Amateur Radio

            In Wilbraham, multiple trees were reported
            down with a transformer was blown at the
            Wilbraham-Monson Academy.

&&

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.