High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, November 27, 1997

Name: High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, November 27, 1997
Start: 1997-11-27T05:00
End: 1997-11-27T17:00
Location: Rhode Island

November 27, 1997 · NWS BOX · 9 events in 7 counties and zones

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.

An intensifying low pressure system moved eastward across northern New England into the Gulf of Maine and caused strong northwest winds on Thanksgiving Day. High winds were reported at several places along the south coast. Peak wind gusts included 67 mph at Rose Island (Newport) and 60 mph at Tiverton. Other gusts included 49 mph at Block Island and 46 mph at Providence.

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: November 27, 5:00 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)

Strong Wind, Bristol

When: November 27, 5:00 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: November 27, 5:00 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: November 27, 5:00 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, Southeast Providence

When: November 27, 5:00 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, Washington

When: November 27, 5:00 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: November 27, 5:00 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: November 27, 6:10 AM EST
Where: Newport forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Coordinates: 41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Rose Island

High Wind, Newport

When: November 27, 10:13 AM EST
Where: Newport forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tiverton

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

Every storm in Rhode Island in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Rhode Island, November 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: 5625293, 5625294, 5625295, 5625296, 5625297, 5625413, 5625414, 5625415, 5625416.