Rhode Island, 1996

Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, March 2, 1996

March 2, 1996 · NWS BOX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A low pressure system located about 100 miles off the North Caolina coast at 7 AM moved northeast and spread snow across the entire state during the forenoon. The snow became moderate to heavy by noon and continued into the late afternoon and early evening.

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.

A low pressure system located about 100 miles off the North Caolina coast at 7 AM moved northeast and spread snow across the entire state during the forenoon. The snow became moderate to heavy by noon and continued into the late afternoon and early evening. Most of the state received 6 to 11 inches of snow. Specific snowfall totals included: Narragansett, 11 inches; downtown Providence, Middletown, and Newport, 9 inches; West Warwick, 8.5 inches; and Westerly, 7.5 inches. Numerous skidding accidents were reported on area highways.

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
March 2, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 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
March 2, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 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
March 2, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 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
March 2, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 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
March 2, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates
41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Washington

When
March 2, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Coordinates
41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Newport

When
March 2, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM 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

More

Every storm in Rhode Island in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, March 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: 5546102, 5546103, 5546104, 5546105, 5546106, 5546107, 5546108.