Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, February 2 to 3, 1996

Name: Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, February 2 to 3, 1996
Start: 1996-02-02T22:00
End: 1996-02-03T10:00
Location: Rhode Island

February 2 to 3, 1996 · NWS BOX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A coastal low pressure system brought a heavy snowfall of 6 to 8 inches to many parts of the state. 8 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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: 7

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 coastal low pressure system brought a heavy snowfall of 6 to 8 inches to many parts of the state. Some snowfall totals included: North Kingstown, 8 inches; Tiverton, 7.5 inches; Clayville, 7 inches; Cumberland, 6.5 inches; Johnston and Lincoln, 6 inches; and Providence and Cranston, 5.8 inches. Travel conditions were difficult during the heavy snow, but since the storm occurred late Friday evening into Saturday morning, there were fewer cancellations than normal.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Providence

When: February 2, 10:00 PM EST to February 3, 10:00 AM 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 2, 10:00 PM EST to February 3, 10:00 AM 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 2, 10:00 PM EST to February 3, 10:00 AM 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 2, 10:00 PM EST to February 3, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Kent forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Bristol

When: February 2, 10:00 PM EST to February 3, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Washington

When: February 2, 10:00 PM EST to February 3, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Newport

When: February 2, 10:00 PM EST to February 3, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Newport forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.500, -71.281 (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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5552236, 5552237, 5552238, 5552239, 5552240, 5552241, 5552242.