Alert archive / Rhode Island / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 52, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 7:00 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | North Kingstown, RI | In 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.
- 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
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
$$
FT2 follow-up statements
241
WWUS51 KBOX 132259
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
659 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026
RIC003-005-009-132345-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0052.000000T0000Z-260813T2345Z/
Washington RI-Newport RI-Kent RI-
659 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON...SOUTHERN NEWPORT AND SOUTHEASTERN KENT
COUNTIES...
At 658 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over North
Kingstown, moving southeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include...
Warwick, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, Newport, Portsmouth,
Middletown, Narragansett, East Greenwich, Richmond, Exeter,
Jamestown, Little Compton, and Prudence Island.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4153 7163 4166 7147 4142 7095 4140 7096
4142 7099 4142 7098 4144 7101 4143 7141
4140 7144
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 307DEG 29KT 4155 7145
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
FT516
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
$$
FTWhat 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.