Rhode Island, 1997

High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, August 21, 1997

August 21, 1997 · NWS BOX · 7 events in 6 counties and zones

A "southeaster" brought high winds to parts of Newport County where a peak gust to 63 mph was reported at Jamestown. High wind gusts close to 60 mph also were reported from Charlestown and Middletown.

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$10,000
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 "southeaster" brought high winds to parts of Newport County where a peak gust to 63 mph was reported at Jamestown. High wind gusts close to 60 mph also were reported from Charlestown and Middletown. A peak wind gust to 55 mph was reported in Newport. Strong southeast winds with gusts to 40 to 55 mph affected all of south coastal Rhode Island. Scattered power outages were reported throughout the area with a total of 3,300 electric customers affected. In Jamestown and Charlestown, where wind gusts reached close to 60 mph, boats were reported sunk and others broke loose from their moorings. Many tree limbs and a few trees were reported blown down. Sixteen foot waves were reported between Block Island and the mainland. The effects of strong winds were felt inland as far north as the Providence area where a few trees and tree limbs were reported blown down, causing isolated power outages. Up to two inches of rain fell with this storm.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 strong wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Southeast Providence

When
August 21, 7:00 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)

Strong Wind, Bristol

When
August 21, 7:00 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)

Strong Wind, Eastern Kent

When
August 21, 7:00 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)

Strong Wind, Newport

When
August 21, 7:00 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)

Strong Wind, Washington

When
August 21, 7:00 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)

Strong Wind, Western Kent

When
August 21, 7:00 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)

High Wind, Newport

When
August 21, 8:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Newport forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
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

More

Every storm in Rhode Island in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, August 1997

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: 5623241, 5623242, 5623243, 5623244, 5623245, 5623246, 5623240.