Rhode Island, 1997

Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Rhode Island, August 29, 1997

August 29, 1997 · NWS BOX · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

A developing ocean storm passing several hundred miles southeast of Cape Cod caused a cold front to move very slowly across Connecticut and Rhode Island. A redeveloping area of showers and thunderstorms produced intense rainfall amounts of three to nearly five and one-half inches in one to three hours in parts of Washington and Newport Counties in coastal Rhode Island.

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 developing ocean storm passing several hundred miles southeast of Cape Cod caused a cold front to move very slowly across Connecticut and Rhode Island. A redeveloping area of showers and thunderstorms produced intense rainfall amounts of three to nearly five and one-half inches in one to three hours in parts of Washington and Newport Counties in coastal Rhode Island. A flash flood occurred in Charlestown where police reported extensive flooding along a portion of Route 1. In Middletown, Bailey Brook rose out of its banks and flooded a section of Forest Avenue. In Newport, the rainfall total was 3.73 inches and 2.29 inches of rain fell in one hour. A total of 5.40 inches of rain was reported in Little Compton. A funnel cloud was photographed over Newport early in the morning. It did not touch down and no damage was reported.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 heavy rain, 2 flash flood, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Newport

When
August 29, 12:15 PM EST
Where
Newport County, Newport
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Newport

When
August 29, 1:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Newport County, Countywide
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Washington

When
August 29, 1:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Washington County, Countywide
Coordinates
41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Washington

When
August 29, 2:15 PM EST
Where
Washington County, Charlestown
Coordinates
41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Newport

When
August 29, 2:30 PM EST
Where
Newport County, Middletown
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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: 5623247, 5623248, 5623249, 5621388, 5621389.