Rhode Island, 2024

Tornado and Damaging Winds in Rhode Island, June 26, 2024

June 26, 2024 · NWS BOX · 8 events in 1 county or zone

Strong storms moved through southern New England overnight bringing a line of very strong winds and a tornado to Rhode Island.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$37,000
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 storms moved through southern New England overnight bringing a line of very strong winds and a tornado to Rhode Island.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jun 26, 9:05 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 26, 9:05 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1005 PM EDT Wed Jun 26 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Hot and humid today with a risk for showers and thunderstorms
especially late this afternoon into the evening. Though there is
a risk for some spotty activity early this afternoon. Some
storms could turn strong to perhaps severe bringing risk of
strong winds and heavy downpours, which may lead to flooding.
Dry and pleasant weather conditions for Friday as Canadian high
pressure briefly builds in. A more humid and more active weekend is
in store as a slow moving frontal system brings periods of showers
and thunderstorms with localized downpours possible. Drier
weather then returns for early next week with seasonable
temperatures.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
730 PM Update:

Update to the forecast for the issuance of SVR T-Storm Watch
472, which includes all of RI and most of MA until 2 AM.

Ongoing squall line moving into western Hartford County has a
well documented history of wind damage in western CT and into
portions of southern NY and NJ. A continued threat of wind
damage is likely within this line of strong to severe
thunderstorms as it accelerates eastward. Severe weather threat
now appears to make it to the coast, although the Cape and
Islands are a bit more stable due to the stratus layer those
locations have seen since this afternoon.

Previous discussion:

Highlights:

* Rest of the afternoon is warm and muggy, with a low chance of a
  spotty shower before sunset.

* Moderate to at times heavy rainfall with localized flash flooding
  during the evening and overnight hours remains possible, as long
  as the heaviest rain develops over urban locations.

* Few stronger storms with isolated severe possible, the primary
  threat of damaging wind gust.

A warm and humid afternoon across southern New England, quick glance
across the CWA and temperatures are well in the 80s and 90F reading
at KBDL. Dewpoints are elevated, mid to upper 60s and a few 70F
sprinkled in. The combination generated modest CAPE across the
interior, between 1,500 and 2,000 J/kg per SPC meso analysis. Storms
have not developed due to lack of forcing and subsidence between the
showers the exited northern New England this morning and the main
event which is over across northern Ohio and western New York. But
a couple of spot showers have bubbled up along the spine of the
Berkshires and Green Mountains due to the differential heating. The
rest of the afternoon a couple of spot showers remain possible.

Breaking down tonight, there are two threats, hydro likely being the
primary, with secondary being severe. This is associated with a
500mb trough/shortwave and surface cold front.

Hydro: There is an anomolous moisture rich airmass, PWATs are around
two inches, and per SPC Sounding Climatology this is near MAX of all
soundings. HREF ensembles 00z to 06z (8pm to 2am) there is between
50 and 70 percent likelihood rainfall rates across Connecticut and
Rhode Island may exceed an inch over three hours. But, more
concerning is the low probability (~10 percent) for three inches of
rain over three hours in northwest Connecticut. Given the antecedent
conditions, the marginal risk ERO for areas north and west of I-95
seems appropriated. After all, localized amounts of 3 to 5 inches of
rain fell just last weekend in western Hartford County along with
parts of eastern Connecticut/western Rhode Island. In addition to
these locations, urbans centers will need to be closely watched
tonight for the potential of flash flooding. Outside of the heaviest
downpours, many should expect widespread 0.5 to 1.0 inch of rain.

Severe: Wind fields are more dynamic this evening with the 850mb jet
increasing after 02z, this should help to promote the development of
storms across the CWA. The challenge with these storms are the poor
lapse rates late this evening and overnight, low level lapse rates
and mid level lapse rates are near 6C/km. But, the deep level shear
is what could continue any storms that develop and move into our
area. Primary threat with any storms would likely be from damaging
wind gusts, though with some low level helicity in eastern New York
and western Connecticut, a low risk for a spin up is there,
highlighted by the 2 percent tornado contour from SPC.

Thinking after 08z/4am showers begin to exit from west to east, with
showers exiting the I-95 corridor during the Thursday morning
commute. A few showers may linger for extreme southeast New England,
Cape Cod, and the islands through mid-morning. Overnight lows are in
the 60s, lower 60s along the northern border with Vermont and New
Hampshire, while the southern coast the low are in the upper
60s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Highlights:

* Any lingering showers/storms move offshore early in the day.
  Will be dry for most other than perhaps a spot shower across
  the MA/NH/VT border during the afternoon.

Caught in cyclonic flow through this period. A trough over our
area will lift offshore early in the day, but will have another
dig into northern New England during the afternoon. High
pressure will begin to nudge in once the cold front pushes
offshore during the AM.

Main focus of the forecast was in the near term. Only major
change made was to introduce a few spotty showers across the
MA/NH/VT border during the afternoon and try to better time the
AM activity exiting. Overall though for most will be a pretty
nice day with decreasing humidity levels, albeit it may be a bit
breezy at times. High temperatures will generally be in the 80s.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Highlights:

* Pleasant Friday with clear skies and low humidity levels.

* More active for the weekend, with periods of showers and t-storms
  associated with a slow moving frontal system. Heavy downpours
  appear to be the greatest risk, but it is uncertain if any
  storm(s) may become strong/severe.

* High pressure returns Monday and Tuesday.

Details:

Friday:

Canadian high pressure moves into New England on Fri, moving
offshore Fri night/early Sat. This will usher in a cooler and drier
air mass to Southern New England with full sunshine. Add this all up
and you get the makings of a spectacular Friday summer day, with
highs in the 70s to low 80s and dewpoints in the mid 40s to low 50s.
As high pressure moves offshore by the evening, moisture levels
start to increase again but at least these rises won't be as
substantial as Sat; lows in the 50s to low 60s.

Saturday and Sunday:

Should be able to eke out a dry Saturday morning at least. But Sat
aftn into Sun evening is looking to be an active period of weather
as a surface frontal system embedded in a regime of seasonably
strong westerly flow aloft will interact with rich deep moisture to
favor showers and thunderstorms. Uncertainties in the forecast stem
from convective details which we can't resolve at this time range,
as well as the timing, both in terms of when rain/t-storms start and
also when they end. There are indications on Sun into Sun evening
that the axis of a surface cold front becomes more parallel to the
mid/upper flow, which could lead to a slow egress offshore.

Despite the above uncertainties, there's enough consensus in the
ensembles to indicate PoPs increasing to Likely-Categorical range
Sat night into Sun, then a slow decrease from NW to SE for Sun
night. PWAT values rise significantly up to 2-2.25", which are 2-3
standard deviations above late-June climatology per ECMWF EPS.
Unclear if we would see any storms produce severe weather - it may
end up being too cloudy to really destabilize significantly - but
heavy downpours and possibly hydro could be a concern at some point
in this period, especially if the front slows/stalls. Did boost QPF
a bit over NBM in this period to better reflect potential for heavy
rains, and while it don't expect it to be raining all the time in
all areas, showers and t-storms producing downpours is a growing
risk for this weekend.

Temps are seasonable with readings in the upper 70s to mid 80s, but
both Sat and Sun look to be quite muggy with dewpoints rising into
the upper 60s to mid 70s.

Monday thru Wednesday:

After what is looking like a soggy weekend, early next week looks
drier/lower humidity levels as we get another infusion of Canadian
high pressure. Both days should feature clear skies with seasonable
temps and modest northerly breezes.

&&

.AVIATION /02Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Forecast Confidence Levels:

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

Tonight: Moderate confidence.

West to east line of storms along the Mass Pike will pose TSRA
concerns for BOS, BED, ORH and BAF thru 02z. A stronger line of
TSRA likely moves in from southern NY into CT, RI and eastern MA
airports between 02-06z, with the potential for strong winds,
CG lightning and heavy rains reducing visbys to IFR levels.
T-storm threat viewed as less likely for Cape and Islands as
these areas are contending with LIFR stratus and fog. Gradual
improvement after 06z from west to east, although SHRA/possible
TS for PVD and the Cape airports thru 10-12z. SW winds around 10
kt for most, though around 15 kt for the Cape and Islands.

Thursday...High confidence in trends, moderate in exact timing.

Any lingering MVFR/IFR improves to VFR between 12z and 15z, ACK
could linger below VFR through 18z. Winds out of the west
between 5 and 10 knots with gusts of 15 to 20 knots.

Thursday Night... High Confidence.

VFR, dry, northwest to north/northwest winds 5 to 10 knots.

KBOS TAF...Moderate confidence in TAF. VCTS/TEMPO TSRA to
account for initial ongoing storms near the Mass Pike, and for
the ongoing line of strong/severe storms moving through NE PA.
This latter one likely moves in by 02z. Should see improvement
by 06z to MVFR and then VFR levels by daybreak.

KBDL TAF...Moderate confidence in TAF. Initial storms to the
north will remain north of the terminal, but the risk for TSRA
increases after 01z as storms over NE PA move through. Some
could become strong to severe with strong wind gusts,
torrential downpours and frequent lightning. Improvement after
06z.

Outlook /Friday through Monday/...

Friday through Friday Night: VFR.

Saturday: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Breezy. Chance
SHRA, isolated TSRA.

Saturday Night: Mainly MVFR, with areas IFR possible. Breezy.
SHRA, isolated TSRA.

Sunday: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy. SHRA,
isolated TSRA.

Sunday Night: VFR. Breezy. Chance SHRA, isolated TSRA.

Monday: VFR.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels:

Low - less than 30 percent.
Medium - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

230 PM update...

* SCA remains in effect thru tonight for southern waters

This evening & overnight...

SW winds 15-20 kt gusting up to 30kt at times. Mainly dry
weather thru the daylight hours, then showers and thunderstorms
over western PA/NY this afternoon, impact RI/MA waters this
evening and overnight. Frequent lightning and heavy downpours
with poor vsby are the main concerns. Secondary concerns is
strong winds.

Thursday..High confidence.

Cold front enters the waters, which will shift winds to W
during the AM along with improving vsbys. However, the front
stalls just offshore. Seas across the outer waters diminishing
to 2-4 ft during the afternoon.

Thursday night...high confidence.

Cold front just offshore finally accelerates out to sea, with
winds becoming NW 15-20 kt, highest across the eastern MA
waters. Dry weather and good vsby.

Outlook /Friday through Monday/...

Friday through Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt.

Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft.
Slight chance of rain showers.

Saturday Night: Moderate risk for Small Craft Advisory winds
with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Chance of rain
showers, isolated thunderstorms.

Sunday: Moderate risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts
up to 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Rain showers, isolated
thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Local rough seas. Chance
of rain showers, isolated thunderstorms.

Monday: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching 5 ft.
Slight chance of rain showers.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
MA...None.
RI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Thursday for ANZ235-237.
     Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EDT Thursday for ANZ254>256.

&&

SYNOPSIS...Loconto/Dooley
NEAR TERM...Loconto/Dooley
SHORT TERM...Nocera
LONG TERM...Loconto
AVIATION...Loconto/Dooley
MARINE...Loconto/Nocera

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 26, 9:10 PM EST, 1 hour before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1010 PM EDT Wed Jun 26 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0955 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNW Plainville        41.68N 72.91W
06/26/2024                   Hartford           CT   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Tree down on Root Ave. Relayed by amateur
            radio.

&&

AL
Local storm report, Jun 26, 9:27 PM EST, 43 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1027 PM EDT Wed Jun 26 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1015 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Bradley AP              41.94N 72.68W
06/26/2024  M77 MPH          Hartford           CT   ASOS

            ASOS station KBDL Bradley AP.

&&

BL
Local storm report, Jun 26, 9:32 PM EST, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1032 PM EDT Wed Jun 26 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0959 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Avon                    41.80N 72.83W
06/26/2024                   Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

            Significant tree damage with several 12 inch
            diameter trees knocked down. Time estimated
            from radar.

&&

BL
Local storm report, Jun 26, 9:45 PM EST, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1045 PM EDT Wed Jun 26 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0959 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 ESE Farmington        41.71N 72.80W
06/26/2024                   Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

            Tree downed on Interstate 84 near exit 37.
            Time estimated from radar.

&&

BL
Local storm report, Jun 26, 9:51 PM EST, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1051 PM EDT Wed Jun 26 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1036 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Willimantic             41.72N 72.22W
06/26/2024                   Windham            CT   Law Enforcement

            Lots of reports of damage in Willimantic per
            PD. Time estimated from radar.

&&

BL
Local storm report, Jun 26, 10:03 PM EST, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1103 PM EDT Wed Jun 26 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1055 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SE Danielson          41.77N 71.86W
06/26/2024  E75 MPH          Windham            CT   Trained Spotter

            Time estimated from radar.

&&

BL

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:11 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Providence

When
June 26, 10:10 PM EST
Where
Providence County, 0.69 mi S of Chepachet
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
41.910, -71.670

In Glocester, a few trees were downed on Rt 44 at Dorr Dr and Indian Trail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Providence

When
June 26, 10:12 PM EST
Where
Providence County, 1.03 mi E of Mapleville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
41.930, -71.630

In Glocester, many large trees were downed near the intersection of Cooper and Douglas Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Providence

When
June 26, 10:14 PM EST
Where
Providence County, 1.47 mi NNW of Hughesdale
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
41.820, -71.510

In Johnston, several trees were downed or uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Providence

When
June 26, 10:16 PM EST
Where
Providence County, 0.86 mi SW of Primrose
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$400
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
41.940, -71.560

In North Smithfield, a tree was down blocking Farnum Pike and Greenville Rd at Rt 7.

Thunderstorm Wind, Providence

When
June 26, 10:18 PM EST
Where
Providence County, 1.47 mi NNE of Esmond
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$800
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.890, -71.490

In Lincoln, a tree and power lines were downed at Douglas Pike at Whipple Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Providence

When
June 26, 10:22 PM EST
Where
Providence County, 0.69 mi S of Lonsdale
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
41.910, -71.400

In Central Falls, several trees and wires were down on Lonsdale Ave.

Tornado, Providence

When
June 26, 10:23 PM EST to 10:29 PM EST
Where
Providence County, 1.1 mi SSE of Limerock to 1.16 mi NE of Lonsdale
Rating
EF1
Path length
4.3 mi
Path width
100 yd
Continued into
Bristol, Ma (BOX)
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
41.905, -71.442

A tornado touched down near Breakneck Hill Road in Lincoln, RI|and traveled to the east-northeast. A number of large hardwood|trees were uprooted, some of which fell onto homes and other|structures in both Lincoln and Cumberland, RI. The tornado|reached maximum intensity of around 100 mph in a few locations.|Other trees were topped and snapped well above the ground. The|maximum width of the tornado was around 100 yards. |The tornado continued to produce tree damage|through Cumberland, RI across the state line into North|Attleboro, MA where it continued to snap and uproot trees before|lifting in the vicinity of Cushman Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Providence

When
June 26, 10:24 PM EST
Where
Providence County, 0.51 mi E of Rumford
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
41.830, -71.340

In East Providence, a tree was downed blocking one lane on Pleasant St.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Rhode Island in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Rhode Island, 2024Warnings in Rhode Island, June 2024

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: 1179723, 1179724, 1179725, 1179726, 1179727, 1179729, 1179722, 1179728.