Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, April 9 to 10, 1996

Name: Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, April 9 to 10, 1996
Start: 1996-04-09T18:00
End: 1996-04-10T15:00
Location: Rhode Island

April 9 to 10, 1996 · NWS BOX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

) as its center passed right over Nantucket Island, MA at 10 AM on April 10th. The storm brought a record late-season snowfall to much of the state and especially to the higher elevations of northern Rhode Island.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.

A low pressure system developed along the mid-Atlantic coast and intensified to 984 mb (29.06 in.) as its center passed right over Nantucket Island, MA at 10 AM on April 10th. The storm brought a record late-season snowfall to much of the state and especially to the higher elevations of northern Rhode Island. North Foster had the maximum total of 21.5 inches, followed by North Smithfield with 16.9 inches and Clayville with 16.0 inches and a water equivalent of 2.05 inches. Providence had 7 inches, Block Island had 7 inches, yet less than 6 inches of snow fell in Newport County.New snowfall records were established for a single April storm and for a 24-hour period during the month of April. At Providence, a new record monthly total for April was established at 12.9 inches. Snow depths on the ground reached new record maxima for April and for so late in the season. Seasonal snowfall totals hit all-time new record highs of well over 100 inches in many locations, especially in northern Rhode Island. Since this was a late-season event, considerably less snow accumulated on pavements, but the heavy, wet snow stuck to trees and power lines, which resulted in scattered power outages. There were numerous reports of lightning accompanying the snow between 8 PM on the 9th and 5 AM on the 10th. Some final seasonal totals included: North Foster, 129.1 inches; Warwick (T.F. Green Airport), 106.1 inches (old record 75.6 inches in 1947-1948); and Woonsocket, 93.7 inches.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Providence

When: April 9, 6:00 PM EST to April 10, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Providence forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southeast Providence

When: April 9, 6:00 PM EST to April 10, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Southeast Providence forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Western Kent

When: April 9, 6:00 PM EST to April 10, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Western Kent forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Eastern Kent

When: April 9, 6:00 PM EST to April 10, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Kent forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Bristol

When: April 9, 6:00 PM EST to April 10, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Washington

When: April 9, 6:00 PM EST to April 10, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Rhode Island in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Rhode Island, April 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5551523, 5551524, 5551525, 5551526, 5551527, 5551528.