An unusually usual late season and long duration nor'easter brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to central Rhode Island. Although most wind gusts were reported between 45 and 55 mph, some gusts estimated as high as 60 mph brought down trees and power lines in Kent county.
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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.
The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.
An unusually usual late season and long duration nor'easter brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to central Rhode Island. A preliminary check suggested this was the worst late May winterlike nor'easter since May 25-26, 1967.Although most wind gusts were reported between 45 and 55 mph, some gusts estimated as high as 60 mph brought down trees and power lines in Kent county. In East Greenwich, a large tree fell onto a roadway, and in West Warwick was reported down across a roadway.No injuries were directly related to the storm.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 25, 5:50 PM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
650 PM EDT WED MAY 25 2005
.NOWMESO 1...
SURGE HOLDING 1.6 FT AND OCEAN WH 12-14 FT.
EARLY THIS MORNING WITH THE STORM TIDE ABV 13.5 FT AT MIDNIGHT WH
WERE NEAR 11 FT AND AT 1 AM WH WERE NR 15 FT...AND PRODUCED WHAT IT
DID (ROAD CLOSURES/DEBRIS AND DANGER IN THE DARK ON FLOODED ROADS.
SIMILAR PROJECTIONS TONIGHT BUT INCREASED WH WOULD MAKE IT WORSE
TONIGHT IF THE WIND CAN INCREASE. SOME SIGN IT WILL B A BIT STRONGER
TONIGHT.
&&
.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)...
CONTINUED MARITIME INFLUENCE FROM COASTAL STORM TO PIVOT
WEST/NORTHWEST TONIGHT. AS THIS LOW STRENGTHENS WITH HIGH PRESSURE
STILL LOCATED OVER SOUTHEASTERN CANADA...NORTHEAST WINDS TO INCREASE
TONIGHT AND ANOTHER SLUG OF RAIN TO SPIRAL OVERHEAD. GFS OMEGA
FIELD LINES UP WELL WITH CURRENT CONVECTION HEADING TOWARD
CAPE...THEREFORE MENTIONED TSTMS IN FORECAST. THIS CONVECTION
SHOULD CONTINUE TO SPIRAL NORTHWEAST AND AFFECT NOT ONLY CAPE AND
ISLANDS...BUT THE NORTH AND SOUTH SHORES THIS EVENING. AFTER THE
BANDED PCPN MOVES OVERHEAD LEFT WITH PERIODS OF RAIN AND DRIZZLE AND
FOG.
WIND SITUATION...CONTINUED WITH WIND ADIVSORY AND HIGH WIND WARNINGS
AS WINDS BETWEEN 1 AND 2K FEET BLOWING 55KT. CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH
WITH WARNING AS ONLY BLUE HILL AND ACK VERIFIED LAST NIGHT...BUT
WITH CONVECTION ON OUR DOORSTEP AND A SEEMING TIGHTER WOUND UP
SYSTEM THIS TIME AROUND...THINKING GUSTS OF 50KT COULD BE REALIZED.
&&
.COASTAL FLOODING...
HAVE ISSUED A COASTAL STORM WARNING AS EXPECTING SIMIALAR OUTCOME
ALONG EAST COAST TONIGHT AS LAST NIGHT. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE FROM
LAST NIGHT IS SEAS OFFSHORE A FEW FEET HIGHER AND HIGH WINDS
EXPECTED DURING TIME OF HIGH TIDE BETWEEN 1 AND 3 AM. MORE WAVE
ACTION ATOP OF HIGH TIDE AND STORM SURGE SHOULD YIELD A BIT HIGHER
STORM TIDE. THE MAIN CONCERN IS ALONG THE NORTH AND SOUTH SHORES.
&&
.AVIATION...
MAINLY IFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT. AS 50KT JET JUST OFF THE DECK AT MHT
TONIGHT NOT EXPECTED TO MIX DOWN...MENTIONED WIND SHEAR CONDITIONS
FROM 03-11Z. AT OTHER TERMINALS...SUSTAINED WINDS AND GUSTS HIGH
ENOUGH TO NOT MENTION WIND SHEAR.
&&
.LONG TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...
CLOSED LOW FINALLY WORKS ITS WAY EAST OF FORECAST AREA ON FRIDAY. A
SHORTWAVE TROF WITH SOME SURFACE MOISTURE CONVERGENCE AND POTENTIAL
INSTABILITY BURST SETS THE STAGE FOR CHANCE SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS
LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. HAS APPEARANCE OF WARM FRONT
OCCLUSION. HAVE GONE COOLER THAN MAV TEMPERATURES NEAR THE
COAST...SINCE THINK GRADIENT WILL BE LIGHT ENOUGH TO ALLOW SEA
BREEZES FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
ENOUGH MOISTURE AND MORE INSTABILITY FROM COOL TEMPERATURES ALOFT
PROVIDE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING.
ALTHOUGH NOT IN FORECAST AT THE MOMENT...MAY BE UNSTABLE ENOUGH FOR
THUNDER AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
BROAD TROF AT 500 MB BODES FOR CONTINUED RISK FOR SHOWERS INTO NEXT
WEEK...BUT NOT THE MORE OR LESS CONTINUOUS RAIN/DRIZZLE OF THE PAST
FEW DAYS. SHOULD SEE SOME GRADUAL MODERATION OF TEMPERATURES NEXT
WEEK. THERE IS A RISK...HOWEVER...OF NEW COASTAL DEVELOPMENT AROUND
MID WEEK FOR A RISK OF A PERIOD OF STEADIER RAIN.
&&
.MARINE...
WENT WITH STORM WARNING FOR MERRIMACK TO ACK BUT GALES ELSEWHERE FOR
TONIGHT. OVER LONG TERM...EXPECT SEAS TO STILL BE ROUGH EARLY FRIDAY
BUT SHOULD GRADUALLY SUBSIDE THE REST OF FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND.
&&
.CLIMATE...
RECORD LOW MAXES (MINI MAXES) THAT MAY APPLY. *PREVIOUS YEARS.
ANOTHER RER WILL POST FOR BOSTON LATER THIS EVENING.
BOS 5/25 49/1967*
5/26 44/1967
5/27 49/1907
PVD 5/27 50/1974
FOR THE MONTH OF MAY ROUGHLY PROJECTED TO A FINISH... THE WAY IT
STACKS UP...DETAILS LATER.
THIS STORM IN CURSORY CHECK OF STORM DATA AND BLUE HILL INFORMATION
IS PROBABLY THE WORST LATE MAY WINTERLIKE STORM SYSTEM IN COASTAL
SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND SINCE MAY 25-26 1967. MORE LATER AS TIME
ALLOWS.
&&
.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...NONE.
MA...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR MAZ007-014>016-019-022-024 FROM 4 PM
WEDNESDAY TO 5 AM THURSDAY.
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FOR MAZ007-015-016-019-022-024 FROM 11
PM WEDNESDAY TO 5 AM THURSDAY.
...WIND ADVISORY FOR MAZ005-006-012-013-017-018-020-021-023 FROM
4 PM WEDNESDAY TO 5 AM THURSDAY.
NH...NONE.
RI...WIND ADVISORY FOR RIZ001>008 FROM 4 PM WEDNESDAY TO 5 AM
THURSDAY.
MARINE...GALE WARNING FOR ANZ230>237 FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM
THURSDAY.
...STORM WARNING FOR ANZ250-254 FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM
THURSDAY.
...GALE WARNING FOR ANZ255 FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM THURSDAY.
&&
SHORT TERM..DRAG
LONG TERM...THOMPSON/GAF
AVIATION...KAB
CLIMATE...KAB/DRAGHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 555 AM EDT WED MAY 25 2005 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-260935- BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA- CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT- NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT- WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT- 555 AM EDT WED MAY 25 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE... MASSACHUSETTS EAST OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST CONNECTICUT...AND ALL OF RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)... A HIGH WIND WARNING CONTINUES TODAY FOR THE THE ENTIRE MASSACHUSETTS COASTLINE...INCLUDING NANTUCKET AND MARTHAS VINEYARD. THE WARNING ALSO INCLUDES NEWPORT COUNTY AND BLOCK ISLAND IN RHODE ISLAND. NORTHEAST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED THROUGH 4 PM. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR INTERIOR EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AS WELL AS MOST OF RHODE ISLAND. NORTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED THROUGH 4 PM. A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS COASTLINE...INCLUDING NANTUCKET...FOR THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 2 AM THURSDAY. THE WARNING AREA COVERS THE MASSACHUSETTS EAST COAST FROM MERRIMACK RIVER TO NANTUCKET. ANY COASTAL FLOODING THAT OCCURS TONIGHT WILL BE SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT. A STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE OUTER COASTAL WATERS FROM MERRIMACK RIVER TO PROVINCETOWN MASSACHUSETTS. NORTHEAST WINDS TODAY WILL GUST TO 50 KNOTS. A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINING COASTAL WATERS. NORTHEAST WINDS TODAY WILL REACH 25 TO 35 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 45 KNOTS. RAIN OF BETWEEN ONE AND TWO INCHES MAY CAUSE MINOR POOR DRAINAGE AND URBAN FLOODING...HOWEVER RIVER AND STREAM FLOODING IS NOT ANTICIPATED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)... GALE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY...BEFORE DIMINISHING LATE IN THE DAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY DAMAGING WINDS AS WELL AS RAINFALL AMOUNTS THAT MATCH REPORTING CRITERIA. SKYWARN ACTIVATION FOR COASTAL FLOODING WILL BE NEEDED TONIGHT. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE WTB
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Rhode Island in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, May 2005
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: 5454612, 5454613.