Rhode Island, 2000

High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, December 12, 2000

December 12, 2000 · NWS BOX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A strong cold front brought damaging wind gusts to portions of Rhode Island. Even though there were scattered reports of wind damage throughout the Ocean State, the strongest winds of nearly 60 mph were felt in the higher terrain of northwest Providence County, and along the coastal plain of Washington County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
7

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 cold front brought damaging wind gusts to portions of Rhode Island. Even though there were scattered reports of wind damage throughout the Ocean State, the strongest winds of nearly 60 mph were felt in the higher terrain of northwest Providence County, and along the coastal plain of Washington County. There were many reports of downed trees, tree limbs, and wires in these areas. About 3,500 electric customers lost power statewide. In addition, the combination of strong southwest winds ahead of the front and a high astronomical tide caused minor coastal flooding in low lying areas of eastern Narragansett Bay, including Bristol, Barrington, and Newport.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

High Wind, Northwest Providence

When
December 12, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Providence forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Washington

When
December 12, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southeast Providence

When
December 12, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 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, Bristol

When
December 12, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 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
December 12, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 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
December 12, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Newport forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Kent

When
December 12, 8:00 AM EST to 6:00 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)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
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 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, December 2000

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: 5167703, 5167704, 5167705, 5167706, 5167707, 5167708, 5167709.