Rhode Island, 1996

Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, March 7 to 8, 1996

March 7 to 8, 1996 · NWS BOX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A low pressure system moved from North Carolina northeastward to just southeast of New England and brought yet another heavy snowstorm to northern and central Rhode Island. Only a few inches accumulated across the south, where the precipitation was mostly rain and sleet.

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

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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 low pressure system moved from North Carolina northeastward to just southeast of New England and brought yet another heavy snowstorm to northern and central Rhode Island. Only a few inches accumulated across the south, where the precipitation was mostly rain and sleet. Light freezing rain and drizzle occurred on March 6th and early on March 7th before significant snow accumulation began. A thin coating of glaze resulted in very icy roads. Numerous minor skidding accidents occurred. Some snowfall totals from this storm included: North Foster, 7.6 inches; Cumberland, 7.5 inches. There was also a total of 7.5 inches in West Warwick, where the seasonal total reached a record 98 inches.

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
March 7, 10:00 AM EST to March 8, 6:00 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 7, 10:00 AM EST to March 8, 6:00 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 7, 10:00 AM EST to March 8, 6:00 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 7, 10:00 AM EST to March 8, 6:00 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 7, 10:00 AM EST to March 8, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates
41.706, -71.286 (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: 5546116, 5546117, 5546118, 5546119, 5546120.