High Wind in Rhode Island, July 13, 1996

Name: High Wind in Rhode Island, July 13, 1996
Start: 1996-07-13T14:00
End: 1996-07-13T20:00
Location: Rhode Island

July 13, 1996 · NWS BOX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

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

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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.

Tropical Storm Bertha brought a period of high winds, heavy rain, and minor coastal flooding to Rhode Island. The center of the tropical storm moved northeast across the state from eastern Connecticut passing near Providence at 8 PM, with a forward speed of about 25 mph. A period of high winds gusting over 40 mph from the SSE to SSW occurred over the entire state. Tropical storm force winds occurred along and just inland from the south coastal area, where there was a gust to hurricane force. Sachuedt Point in Middletown recorded a one-minute wind speed of 64 mph with a gust to 74 mph at 8:22 PM. Other peak wind gusts included: 71 mph in Barrington at 3:18 PM; 70 mph in Cranston at 2:30 PM; 67 mph in Warwick at 4 PM; and 65 mph in Woonsocket aT 3:45 PM.Falling trees and tree limbs knocked out power to up to 32,000 electric customers. Just about all of the power was restored within 12 hours. Heavy rainfall affected most of the state with two to five and one-half inches. Less than two inches of rain fell across the southeast corner of the state. A total of 5.51 inches of rain was recorded at Coventry with 5.41 inches in Providence. Urban street flooding occurred during the heaviest rainfall. Road washouts were reported in Coventry, Warwick, and Cranston. Minor coastal flooding was reported, with tides 2 to 4 feet above normal. At the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, a storm surge of 2.1 feet was reported at 6:22 PM. Large ocean swells of 18 feet were reported offshore. Minor beach erosion occurred along the exposed shores. A funnel cloud was observed near Point Judith in southeast Washington County around 3 PM. The lowest pressure of 995.9 millibars...or 29.41 inches...was recorded by the National Weather Service at Providence at 7:36 PM. Tropical Storm Bertha became only the 6th tropical cyclone this century to impact the state prior to August 1st.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Northwest Providence

When: July 13, 2:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Providence forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Coordinates: 41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southeast Providence

When: July 13, 2:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Southeast Providence forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Kent

When: July 13, 2:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Western Kent forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Kent

When: July 13, 2:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Kent forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Coordinates: 41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bristol

When: July 13, 2:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Bristol forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph)
Coordinates: 41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Washington

When: July 13, 2:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Newport

When: July 13, 2:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Newport forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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, July 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5582064, 5582065, 5582066, 5582067, 5582068, 5582069, 5582070.