Strong Wind, Southeast Providence
- When
- February 4, 11:00 PM EST to February 5, 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Southeast Providence forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, February 4 to 5, 1998
A strong storm system passing offshore to the southeast of Cape Cod caused strong northeast winds across central and southern Rhode Island and high winds along south coastal sections, including Block Island. Large breaking waves caused minor coastal flooding and minor beach erosion.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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 strong storm system passing offshore to the southeast of Cape Cod caused strong northeast winds across central and southern Rhode Island and high winds along south coastal sections, including Block Island. Large breaking waves caused minor coastal flooding and minor beach erosion. Some peak wind gusts included: Little Compton, 63 mph; Block Island, 60 mph; and Providence, 48 mph. Sustained winds reached 45 mph at Point Judith.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
6 strong wind, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong Wind, Bristol
- When
- February 4, 11:00 PM EST to February 5, 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
- February 4, 11:00 PM EST to February 5, 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
- February 4, 11:00 PM EST to February 5, 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Newport forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Strong Wind, Washington
- When
- February 4, 11:00 PM EST to February 5, 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
- February 4, 11:00 PM EST to February 5, 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, Washington
- When
- February 5, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
- Where
- Washington forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph)
- Coordinates
- 41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Newport
- When
- February 5, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
- Where
- Newport forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 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
- Coastal Flood in Virginia, February 4 to 6, 1998
- Coastal Flood and High Wind in New Jersey, February 4 to 9, 1998
- Coastal Flood and High Wind in Delaware, February 4 to 9, 1998
- Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Virginia, February 4 to 5, 1998
- Flash Flooding and Coastal Flood in Maryland, February 4 to 5, 1998
- Coastal Flood in Maryland, February 4 to 6, 1998
- Flooding in Georgia, February 4 to 8, 1998
- Flash Flooding in Virginia, February 4 to 5, 1998
- Storm Surge in Ohio, February 4 to 5, 1998
- Heavy Rain in Virginia, February 4 to 6, 1998
- High Wind in Puerto Rico, February 4, 1998
- Flash Flooding in Puerto Rico, February 4 to 5, 1998
More
Every storm in Rhode Island in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, February 1998
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: 5632525, 5632526, 5632527, 5632528, 5632529, 5632530, 5632531, 5632532.