Below normal monthly precipitation that began in March of 2016, continued through August. In August, rainfall throughout much of Rhode Island was below normal.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Below normal monthly precipitation that began in March of 2016, continued through August. In August, rainfall throughout much of Rhode Island was below normal.
The governor of Rhode Island issued a drought advisory for the entire state on August 17th. As part of the advisory, voluntary water conservation and adherence to any local water restrictions were encouraged. Soil moisture (measured by the Climate Prediction Center) was on the low end of normal while groundwater conditions (measured by the United States Geological Survey) were found to be normal to below normal for much of the state. Some privately owned wells were reported to have gone dry in Burrillville. River and streamflow conditions were below to well below normal with 27 gage sites in southern New England at record low levels.
Farmers have had to irrigate their crops much more than normal for August.
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 Aug 2, 5:59 AM EST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Taunton MA 659 AM EDT TUE AUG 2 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Showers with brief heavy rain mainly across interior southern New England this morning will come to an end by afternoon. High pressure will then bring dry and seasonable temperatures for the rest of the work week. A cold front may bring a round of scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday, but not expecting a washout. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... 7 AM Update...Broad area of showers across central MA, northern CT, and moving into northwestern RI continue. These showers have been very slow moving, which has resulted in heavy rain occurring in a few areas (such as the Springfield metro area). There have been a few reports of flooded roads in West Springfield, where we have issued a flood advisory. However, much of the area is just experiencing very beneficial rainfall. These showers are holding together a bit better than we earlier anticipated so have extended and raised the PoPs farther east over the next few hours. Eastern MA and RI would definitely benefit from seeing this rain, but given model trends and the continued dry weather, just not confident in it making it to the east coast with the same intensity. Other than the rain, the forecast is right on track. Previous discussion... Numerous showers with brief heavy rain will affect western MA/Northern CT through mid morning in association with shortwave energy/elevated instability. A few of these showers may also affect eastern MA/RI this morning, but forcing is weaker across this region so areal coverage will be more limited. Subsidence behind this morning's shortwave will result in mainly dry weather this afternoon, other than a few leftover spot showers. Clouds this morning should give way to partly sunny skies across eastern MA/RI during the afternoon. Across western MA/northern CT mostly cloudy skies will persist well into the afternoon, but may see some partial clearing by late afternoon/early evening. Precipitation this morning, clouds and northeast flow should hold high temps in the 70s today across the entire region. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM WEDNESDAY/... Tonight... High pressure builds across the region tonight, resulting in mainly clear skies and light winds. Low temps should drop into the 50s across most of the region, except lower 60s in urban heat islands of downtown Boston and Providence. Patchy ground fog may develop late in the typically prone locations. Wednesday... High pressure will be in control of our weather Wednesday. Expect mostly sunny skies along with warmer temperatures than today. Afternoon highs should reach into the lower to middle 80s in many locations, except mid to upper 70s along the immediate coast and higher terrain. Dewpoints in the 50s will result in comfortable humidity values for early August standards. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... HIGHLIGHTS... * Warming trend through Saturday with humidity increasing Fri & Sat * Cold front late Fri/Sat could bring thunderstorms to the region * High pressure starts to build from the west Sunday and Monday 00Z models are in fairly good agreement with the overall synoptic pattern through the long term. After high pressure and a weak upper ridge crest over southern New England Wednesday night and Thursday, upper level troughing starts to develop over southeastern Canada. Low pressure over Hudson Bay will move through Quebec Saturday, bringing a cold front through southern New England. There are slight timing differences in the models with the passage of the front. This may play a role in how much precip we get. This is the main focus for showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, looking at a dry forecast. Temperatures...seasonable temperatures expected with a gradual warming trend through the end of the week. In addition, humidity levels start out fairly low and then increase Friday into Saturday. The main question will be the timing of the cold front and how it will impact the temperatures on Saturday. The cold front will drop temperatures and humidity levels Sunday and Monday. Precipitation...the only chance of showers and thunderstorms will be ahead of and with the front on Saturday. Because of the timing differences with the front, showers may be limited with little to no chance of thunder or they may be more numerous with enough instability for some thunderstorms. Will keep with chance PoPs for Friday night and Saturday. && .AVIATION /12Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Forecaster Confidence Levels. Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Today...Moderate to high confidence. Mainly MVFR to localized IFR conditions will continue to affect much of interior southern New England through mid to late morning in showers. Across the coastal plain, mainly VFR conditions will persist outside of a few showers. All locations should improve to VFR by mid to late afternoon. KBOS TAF...Moderate to high confidence. Mainly VFR other than a low risk for brief MVFR conditions this morning. KBDL TAF...Moderate to high confidence. Mainly MVFR conditions this morning in showers with improvement to VFR during the afternoon. Tonight and Wednesday...High confidence. Mainly VFR conditions other than a few hours of patchy fog possible late tonight into early Wednesday morning in the typically prone locations. Outlook /Wednesday Night through Saturday/... Wednesday night through Friday...High confidence. VFR. Friday night and Saturday...Low confidence. Mainly VFR. Low probability of MVFR conditions in SCT -SHRA/TSRA. && .MARINE... Forecaster Confidence Levels. Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Short Term /through Wednesday/...High confidence. High pressure across the Canadian Maritimes today will build south into New England tonight and Wednesday. The result will be northeast winds of 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots at times. However, expect winds and seas to remain below small craft advisory thresholds. Outlook /Wednesday Night through Saturday/... High confidence. Quiet boating weather expected for much of this time. One exception will be Friday night and Saturday when scattered showers and thunderstorms may occur with a cold frontal passage. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...Frank/RLG NEAR TERM...Frank/RLG SHORT TERM...Frank LONG TERM...RLG AVIATION...Frank/RLG MARINE...Frank/RLG
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 338 AM EDT TUE AUG 2 2016 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-RIZ001>008-030745- HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA- WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA- SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA- SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA- WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA- NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI- WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI- 338 AM EDT TUE AUG 2 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...ALL OF MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT BERKSHIRE COUNTY...AND RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ230>237-250-251-254>256-030745- BOSTON HARBOR-CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND- BUZZARDS BAY-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND- COASTAL WATERS EAST OF IPSWICH BAY AND THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS EXTENDING OUT TO 25 NM SOUTH OF MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET- COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO MARTHAS VINEYARD EXTENDING OUT TO 20 NM SOUTH OF BLOCK ISLAND- 338 AM EDT TUE AUG 2 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. RLG FOR THE LATEST UPDATES...PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BOSTON YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSBOSTON YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT @NWSBOSTON
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
645 AM EDT TUE AUG 02 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0642 AM FLOOD WEST SPRINGFIELD 42.12N 72.65W
08/02/2016 HAMPDEN MA BROADCAST MEDIA
SYLVAN AVENUE AND PARK STREET ARE FLOODED.
&&
RLGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
706 AM EDT TUE AUG 02 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0654 AM FLOOD WEST SPRINGFIELD 42.12N 72.65W
08/02/2016 HAMPDEN MA BROADCAST MEDIA
THE ROUTE 5 TUNNEL IS FLOODED...TRAFFIC IS BEING
REROUTED TO THE ROTARY ABOVE THE TUNNEL.
&&
RLGThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The U.S. Drought Monitor expanded the Severe Drought (D2) designation into northwestern Providence County on August 2nd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Rhode Island in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, August 2016
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: 657808.