Rhode Island, 1998

Strong Wind in Rhode Island, March 21 to 22, 1998

March 21 to 22, 1998 · NWS BOX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong very early Spring nor'easter was caused by a low pressure system which moved to the north-northeast from the Virginia coast on March 21st passing to the southeast of Cape Cod on March 22nd. This storm brought a mixture of snow, sleet, and rain to Rhode Island.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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 very early Spring nor'easter was caused by a low pressure system which moved to the north-northeast from the Virginia coast on March 21st passing to the southeast of Cape Cod on March 22nd. This storm brought a mixture of snow, sleet, and rain to Rhode Island. Over the northern half of the state, snow accumulation was from 2 to 4.5 inches. Strong northeast winds gusting from 35 to 50 mph occurred over the central and southern portion of the state. The strong winds occurred during a 24-hour period from the morning of March 21st into the morning of March 22nd. A peak wind gust to 49 mph was reported from Block Island, while Providence had a gust to 35 mph.

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. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Southeast Providence

When
March 21, 6:00 AM EST to March 22, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Southeast Providence forecast zone
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Bristol

When
March 21, 6:00 AM EST to March 22, 8:00 AM 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 21, 6:00 AM EST to March 22, 8:00 AM 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 21, 6:00 AM EST to March 22, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Newport forecast zone
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Washington

When
March 21, 6:00 AM EST to March 22, 8:00 AM 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 21, 6:00 AM EST to March 22, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Western Kent forecast zone
Coordinates
41.673, -71.579 (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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Rhode Island in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, March 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: 5642331, 5642332, 5642333, 5642334, 5642335, 5642336.