Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, February 16 to 17, 1996

Name: Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, February 16 to 17, 1996
Start: 1996-02-16T12:00
End: 1996-02-17T12:00
Location: Rhode Island

February 16 to 17, 1996 · NWS BOX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A rapidly intensifying low pressure system moved northeast from off the Virginia Capes passing southeast of Cape Cod. It brought still another in a long series of major snowstorms this winter season.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 rapidly intensifying low pressure system moved northeast from off the Virginia Capes passing southeast of Cape Cod. It brought still another in a long series of major snowstorms this winter season. Snowfall totals of 5 to 7 inches fell across the state: T.F. Green Airport in West Warwick, 7.0 inches; Tiverton, 6.6 inches; Clayville, 6 inches; downtown Providence, 5.5 inches; and North Foster, 5.2 inches. The seasonal snowfall total reached 79.9 inches at North Foster and a record 78.0 inches at the National Weather Service Office at T.F. Green Airport in West Warwick. Highway travel was seriously disrupted for the Friday afternoon rush hour and many motorists were delayed several hours before arriving home.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Providence

When: February 16, 12:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 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: February 16, 12:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 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: February 16, 12:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 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: February 16, 12:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Kent forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Washington

When: February 16, 12:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 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, February 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5552243, 5552244, 5552245, 5552246, 5552247.