Providence County, Rhode Island
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 44007 · population 660,349 · 409 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 923 records for Providence County, Rhode Island from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 484 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (209 records). 472 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the June 9, 2008 heat, filed for the forecast zone Southeast Providence, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1978, 21 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storm and Flooding” on March 20, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 923on 484 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 646 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $80Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 25latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Providence County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 209 since 1996. 55% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The rank column places the county among Rhode Island's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 209 | 123 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 1 | $18M | 3 of 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | 198 | 133 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 7 | $1.6M | 4 of 4 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 175 | 97 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 2 | $2.4M | 2 of 4 |
| Floods | 172 | 90 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 3 | $46M | 3 of 4 |
| Hail | 63 | 43 | 1965-2025 | 0 | 0 | $27K | 2 of 4 |
| Heavy rain | 35 | 23 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $41K | 4 of 4 |
| Lightning | 28 | 25 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 9 | $989K | 2 of 4 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 10 | 1985-2024 | 0 | 24 | $10M | 1 of 4 |
| Drought | 9 | 6 | 2012-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 4 |
| Heat | 8 | 8 | 1998-2013 | 3 | 0 | – | 2 of 4 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 7 | 4 | 2008-2021 | 0 | 0 | $224K | 4 of 4 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 2 | 2015-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 4 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Providence County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Providence County from 1985 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 24 injuries recorded in the county. That is 1st of 4 Rhode Island counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 12 tornadoes whose track touched Providence County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Every tornado record filed for Providence County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-26 | Limerock, Providence County | EF1 4.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 2023-09-13 | Glocester, Providence County | EF1 0.21 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2023-09-13 | Pawtucket St Ar, Providence County | EF0 0.21 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2023-08-18 | Waterman Four Corner, Providence County | EF2 9.1 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 1 | $242K |
| 2021-11-13 | Moosup Vly, Providence County | EF0 1.39 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2018-10-23 | North Providence, Providence County | EF1 1.5 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2000-08-16 | Foster, Providence County | F0 0.2 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-09-23 | Providence County | F0 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1986-08-08 | Providence County | F1 6 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1986-08-07 | Providence County | F2 4 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 20 | $2.5M step |
| 1986-08-07 | Providence County | F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1985-08-26 | Providence County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Providence County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 19, 2025 strong wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-22 | BlizzardProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | BlizzardProvidence County · forecast zone Southeast Providence | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Heavy SnowProvidence County · forecast zone Southeast Providence | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Heavy SnowProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-19 | Strong WindProvidence County · forecast zone Southeast Providence | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-08-29 | Thunderstorm WindOak Lawn, Providence County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $800 |
| 2025-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindJohnston, Providence County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $300 |
| 2025-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindHarbor Jct, Providence County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $300 |
| 2025-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindEsmond, Providence County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $800 |
| 2025-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindPawtucket, Providence County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-07-25 | LightningPrimrose, Providence County | 0 | 0 | $300 | |
| 2025-07-08 | Thunderstorm WindHarrisville, Providence County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $300 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-09 | HeatProvidence County · forecast zone Southeast Providence An elderly couple in Central Falls, RI was found dead in their apartment where temperatures had reached 102 degrees. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-07 | Strong WindProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence Winds generally gusted 45-50 mph. In Scituate a tree was down blocking the road. A 63 year old Massachusetts man was killed by a falling tree branch while on a hike in Burrilville on the Nipmuc Trail. | 43 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $500 |
| 2013-07-20 | HeatProvidence County · forecast zone Southeast Providence A 90 year old woman died at the Charlesgate Nursing Center in Providence. The woman was not in poor health but lived in a room without air conditioning. Despite air conditioned rooms being available to the woman, she remained in her room. The Rhode Island Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that the cause of death was ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2013-02-08 | Heavy SnowProvidence County · forecast zone Southeast Providence Seventeen to twenty-one inches of snow fell across southeastern Providence County. A Rhode Island man died from a heart attack while shoveling snow from the blizzard. No further details were available, including what city or town the man was from. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-02-01 | Winter WeatherProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence A car began skidding sideways while on a curve in the road and was struck by a loaded flatbed tow truck. The truck driver tried to avoid the accident, but because of the icy roads was unable to move quickly. The driver of the car was killed. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1986-08-07 | TornadoProvidence County | F2 4 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 20 | $2.5M step |
| 2001-07-15 | LightningBurrillville, Providence County Lightning struck a family of four in Burrillville, as they took refuge in their trailer during a thunderstorm. They were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and later released. | 0 | 4 | – | |
| 2022-09-05 | Flash FloodNorth Providence, Providence County In Providence, 7 to 10 inches of rain fell over the course of a few hours during the mid to late afternoon creating serious flash flooding. 8.31 inches of rain fell in the Elmwood section of the city and 6.89 in the College Hill section. National news media showed aerial views of Interstate 95 which had become ... | 0 | 3 | $1.0M |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-03-29 | FloodHoward, Providence County | 0 | 0 | $36M | |
| 2001-03-05 | Heavy SnowProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence | 0 | 0 | $17M | |
| 2001-03-22 | FloodProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2013-09-02 | Flash FloodWaterman Four Corner, Providence County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2018-10-23 | TornadoNorth Providence, Providence County | EF1 1.5 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2022-09-05 | Flash FloodNorth Providence, Providence County | 0 | 3 | $1.0M | |
| 2001-03-09 | Heavy SnowProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence | 0 | 0 | $833K | |
| 2004-08-21 | Thunderstorm WindWoonsocket, Providence County | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $781K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: August 7, 1986 (tornado, Providence County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Providence County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 34 | 66 | 90 | 19 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 60 | 45 | 50 | 43 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 35 | 60 | 47 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 23 | 42 | 48 | 59 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 24 | 20 | 5 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 21 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 95 · Feb 105 · Mar 86 · Apr 44 · May 40 · Jun 92 · Jul 118 · Aug 90 · Sep 81 · Oct 54 · Nov 45 · Dec 73 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Providence County
FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Providence County: 13 major disasters, 12 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and snowstorm (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-03-20 | DR-4765 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2024-03-20 | DR-4766 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2024-01-07 | DR-4753 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2022-05-12 | DR-4653 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2021-08-21 | EM-3563 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020-03-30 | DR-4505 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3440 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-04-03 | DR-4212 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2013-03-22 | DR-4107 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3355 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-03 | DR-4027 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Irene |
| 2011-08-27 | EM-3334 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010-03-30 | EM-3311 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2010-03-29 | DR-1894 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-19 | EM-3255 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-17 | EM-3203 | Snowstorm | Record Snow |
| 2003-03-27 | EM-3182 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1996-11-19 | EM-3123 | Other | Major Water Main Break |
| 1996-01-24 | DR-1091 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3102 | Snowstorm | Blizzards, High Winds & Record Snowfall |
| 1992-09-16 | EM-3094 | Toxic Substances | Water Contamination |
| 1991-08-26 | DR-913 | Hurricane | Hurricane Bob |
| 1985-10-15 | DR-748 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gloria |
| 1978-02-16 | DR-548 | Snowstorm | Snow & Ice |
| 1978-02-07 | EM-3058 | Snowstorm | Blizzard & Snowstorms |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Providence County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 172 flood or flash flood records for Providence County from 1996 to 2024, on 90 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Providence County ranks 229th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $49.0 million on 1,626 claims filed in Providence County; the most in one year was 476 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 78 · 1979: 123 · 1980: 14 · 1981: 8 · 1982: 106 · 1983: 60 · 1984: 38 · 1985: 12 · 1986: 18 · 1987: 8 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 6 · 1991: 15 · 1992: 3 · 1993: 7 · 1994: 6 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 5 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 59 · 1999: 17 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 33 · 2002: 3 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 4 · 2005: 232 · 2006: 39 · 2007: 18 · 2008: 23 · 2009: 7 · 2010: 476 · 2011: 6 · 2012: 4 · 2013: 17 · 2014: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 15 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 62 · 2024: 58 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 4.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Providence County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Providence County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $130 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | $8.8M | 6 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $93M | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $6.9M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.0M | 22 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $661K | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $9.5M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.3M | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $636K | 2 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Providence County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Winter storms in Rhode IslandThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Rhode Island recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Providence CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Providence County's FEMA declarations (CSV)25 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis