High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, January 18, 1999

Name: High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, January 18, 1999
Start: 1999-01-18T19:00
End: 1999-01-18T22:00
Location: Rhode Island

January 18, 1999 · NWS BOX · 8 events in 7 counties and zones

Strong south winds gusted to 55 mph ahead of an approaching cold front. The highest gust reported was 60 mph, at a local television station in Cranston.

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

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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.

Strong south winds gusted to 55 mph ahead of an approaching cold front. The highest gust reported was 60 mph, at a local television station in Cranston. Some of the other stronger wind gusts reported include 55 mph at Block Island and Barrington, 50 mph in Newport, 47 mph in Providence, and 46 mph in Coventry. The strong winds downed power lines in Cranston and Warwick, resulting in scattered power outages.

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, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Northwest Providence

When: January 18, 7:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Providence forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Bristol

When: January 18, 7:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Bristol forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Kent

When: January 18, 7:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Kent forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Newport

When: January 18, 7:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Newport forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southeast Providence

When: January 18, 7:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southeast Providence forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Washington

When: January 18, 7:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Kent

When: January 18, 7:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Western Kent forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southeast Providence

When: January 18, 7:30 PM EST
Where: Southeast Providence forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cranston

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 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Rhode Island, January 1999

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: 5683945, 5683946, 5683947, 5683948, 5683949, 5683950, 5683951, 5683952.