Rhode Island, 1997

High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, March 6, 1997

March 6, 1997 · NWS BOX · 9 events in 7 counties and zones

High winds, with gusts reaching 50 to 62 mph from the west and northwest, occurred across the state in the wake of strong low pressure that passed through New England and into the Gulf of Maine. Buildings and vehicles were damaged by falling trees and tree limbs in many communities throughout the state.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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
9

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.

High winds, with gusts reaching 50 to 62 mph from the west and northwest, occurred across the state in the wake of strong low pressure that passed through New England and into the Gulf of Maine. Wind speeds increased dramatically around mid-morning and the strongest winds occurred during the afternoon.Buildings and vehicles were damaged by falling trees and tree limbs in many communities throughout the state. In Burrillville and Glocester, houses were damaged by falling trees and in Chepachet, a parked car was set afire by a falling power line. Part of a roof was blown off a school in Providence. Up to 11,800 electric customers were without power during the afternoon, but only a couple of thousand remained without power by early evening. A peak gust to 62 mph was reported from downtown Providence around mid-afternoon. Some peak gusts reported around the state included: Little Compton, 58 mph; Coventry, 57 mph; Block Island, 55 mph; and Woonsocket, 52 mph.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 strong wind, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Northwest Providence

When
March 6, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Providence forecast zone
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Bristol

When
March 6, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 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
March 6, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 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
March 6, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Newport forecast zone
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southeast Providence

When
March 6, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Providence forecast zone
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Washington

When
March 6, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 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
March 6, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Western Kent forecast zone
Coordinates
41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southeast Providence

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Providence forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Newport

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Newport forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
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, March 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: 5597660, 5597661, 5597662, 5597663, 5597664, 5597665, 5597666, 5597667, 5597668.