Rhode Island natural disasters
The state's storm and disaster record · population 1,096,840 · 5 counties and county equivalents
NOAA's Storm Events Database records 2,495 storm events in Rhode Island since 1950, 2,408 of them since 1996 when every event type began to be recorded, and the Storm Prediction Center counts 20 tornadoes in the state since 1950. The most frequent records are high wind and dust records (730). In NOAA's storm record since 1950, the deadliest event in Rhode Island is the September 28, 2008 high surf in Washington County: 2 deaths. FEMA has made 31 declarations for Rhode Island since 1954, 26 for natural hazards; 17 were major disasters.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm events recorded in Rhode Island 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 $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 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 events recorded
- 2,4951950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 2065 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $191Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes (SPC)
- 201950 to 2025
- FEMA declarations
- 3117 major disasters
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); tornado count: NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 1950-2025; damage in 2025 dollars (BLS CPI-U). Search the record at NCEI.
What natural disasters happen in Rhode Island?
By NOAA's records, Rhode Island's most frequent hazards are high wind and dust records (730), winter storm records (605), severe thunderstorm wind events (346); the deadliest are rip current and surf records (9 deaths). Each hazard is counted over the years NOAA has recorded it everywhere: tornadoes since 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind since 1955, everything else since 1996. Open a hazard for its years, months, counties and worst events.
| Hazard | Records | Last 10 years | Killed | Injured | Damage | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 730 | 210 | 2 | 9 | $4.5M | 5 of 5 |
| Winter storms | 605 | 144 | 3 | 3 | $20M | 5 of 5 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 346 | 110 | 0 | 2 | $5.1M | 5 of 5 |
| Floods | 340 | 121 | 1 | 4 | $146M | 5 of 5 |
| Hail | 140 | 21 | 0 | 0 | $27K | 5 of 5 |
| Heavy rain | 127 | 9 | 0 | 0 | $41K | 5 of 5 |
| Lightning | 59 | 12 | 2 | 19 | $2.1M | 5 of 5 |
| Heat | 35 | 1 | 3 | 3 | – | 4 of 5 |
| Drought | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 5 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 29 | 17 | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | 5 of 5 |
| Tornadoes | 20 | 9 | 0 | 24 | $11M | 5 of 5 |
| Extreme cold | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 5 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 10 | 5 | 9 | 1 | $504 | 3 of 5 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: every record counted once in the state; "last 10 years" is 2017-2026 (2026 to June 30, 2026).
What were the deadliest disasters in Rhode Island?
The storms with the most deaths since 1950, from the National Weather Service's own entries. NOAA files one storm as several records when it crosses forecast zones and counties or changes type, and groups them under one episode; each row here is an episode, with its totals and the narrative of its deadliest record. Before 1996 tornado records carry no episode and stand alone. The narrative says what happened: some deaths the National Weather Service files under a weather type had another cause beside the weather.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09-28 | High SurfWashington County · forecast zone Washington A newly married couple went to Black Point in Narragansett to watch and photograph the waves churned up by Hurricane Kyle. A wave swept the wife off the rocks, pulling her into the water. Her husband jumped into the water to save her. Both drowned. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 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 | – | |
| 2021-06-20 | Rip CurrentKent County · forecast zone Eastern Kent Strong rip currents off of Conimicut Point in Warwick, RI (Narragansett Bay) caused the drowning death of a 10 year old girl and of the 45 year old man who went in to attempt to rescue her. Time approximate. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-10-28 | High SurfNewport County · forecast zone Newport High surf, on the order of 6 to 8 foot waves, knocked a 51 year old woman off the rocks, where she was fishing. She ended up drowning. Her 52 year old husband went into the water to save her but he ended up drowning as well. Very sad story. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-07 | Strong WindProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence One storm episode: 6 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's. A strong low was centered over the Gulf of Maine on the morning of the 7th creating a tight pressure gradient across southern New England. This led to strong wind gusts generally 45 to 65 mph. | 43 kt wind | 1 | 1 | $13K |
| 2004-08-11 | LightningNarragansett Pier, Washington County Two men were struck by lightning from an early morning thunderstorm while fishing at East Matunuck State Beach in Narragansett. They were trying to find shelter when they were hit, according to media reports. One man, who initially was in critical condition, succumbed to his injuries a couple of days later. The other ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2014-08-06 | High SurfNewport County · forecast zone Newport A 58 year old Massachusetts man was swept away by high surf while fishing on rocks at Beavertail State Park in Jamestown, RI. His body was recovered from the surf along the rocky shoreline. Tropical Storm Bertha was spinning off the coast of North Carolina, churning up seas and sending them northward, contributing to ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 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 | – | |
| 2010-03-14 | FloodLakewood, Kent County The South Branch of the Pawtuxet River at Washington rose above flood stage and the main branch of the Pawtuxet River at Cranston rose into major flood, eventually setting a record crest following three to four inches of rain. The main branch of the Pawtuxet River flooded portions of Warwick and West Warwick. Multiple ... | 1 | 0 | $1.8M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed in this state, summed over the records of each episode (EPISODE_ID); a forecast-zone record counts the zone's deaths once. A tornado's whole-track deaths (SPC), on the state's tornado page, can be higher when the track crossed a state line. Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.
The costliest records in Rhode Island
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-03-29 | FloodHoward, Providence County | 0 | 0 | $36M | |
| 2010-03-29 | FloodLakewood, Kent County | 0 | 0 | $35M | |
| 2010-03-29 | FloodEscoheag, Washington County | 0 | 1 | $34M | |
| 2001-03-05 | Heavy SnowProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence | 0 | 0 | $17M | |
| 2010-03-30 | FloodBristol County | 0 | 0 | $8.0M | |
| 2012-10-29 | Coastal FloodWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $6.0M | |
| 2001-03-22 | FloodProvidence County · forecast zone Northwest Providence | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2010-03-30 | FloodConanicut Park, Newport County | 0 | 0 | $4.8M |
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: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. BLS consumer price index.
Which counties in Rhode Island have the most records?
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950 attributed to each county (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).
Every county in Rhode Island
Billion-dollar disasters in Rhode Island
NOAA counted 33 weather or climate disasters from 1980-2024 that cost at least $1 billion (adjusted for inflation) and affected Rhode Island, led by winter storm (14). The most recent: Southern Tornado Outbreak and East Coast Storm (2024); East Coast Storm and Flooding (2023); Northeastern Winter Storm/Cold Wave (2023).
| Type | Events | Total cost (NOAA's range) |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Storm | 14 | $1.0B-$2.0B |
| Tropical Cyclone | 8 | $1.0B-$2.0B |
| Severe Storm | 7 | $100M-$250M |
| Flooding | 2 | $100M-$250M |
| Drought | 1 | $5M-$100M |
| Freeze | 1 | $5M-$100M |
Every one of the 33, newest first
- Southern Tornado Outbreak and East Coast Storm2024
- East Coast Storm and Flooding2023
- Northeastern Winter Storm/Cold Wave2023
- Central and Eastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave2022
- Hurricane Ida2021
- Tropical Storm Elsa2021
- Hurricane Isaias2020
- Southeast and Eastern Tornado Outbreak2020
- South, East and Northeast Severe Weather2020
- Northeast Winter Storm2018
- Central and Eastern Winter Storm2018
- West/Northeast/Southeast Drought2016
- Central and Eastern Winter storm, Cold Wave2015
- Hurricane Sandy2012
- Hurricane Irene2011
- Groundhog Day Blizzard2011
- Northeast Flooding2010
- East/South Severe Weather and Flooding2007
- Hurricane Floyd1999
- Central and Eastern Winter Storm1999
- Central and Eastern Severe Storms and Flooding1998
- Mississippi and Ohio Valley Severe Weather and Flooding1997
- Blizzard/Floods1996
- Southeast Ice Storm1994
- Winter Storm, Cold Wave1994
- East Coast Blizzard and Severe Weather1993
- Northeast Winter Storm1992
- Hurricane Bob1991
- Hurricane Gloria1985
- Winter Storm, Cold Wave1985
- Tornadoes, Severe Storms, Floods1984
- Freeze/Cold Wave1983
- Midwest/Southeast/Northeast Winter Storm, Cold Wave1982
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, state summary for Rhode Island, 1980-2024 (NCEI's last update; the product is archived). A disaster that affected several states counts in each. NCEI billion-dollar disasters.
Federal disaster declarations in Rhode Island
FEMA has made 31 declarations for Rhode Island since 1954: 17 major disasters, 13 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. The most common incident types are hurricane (10), severe storm (8), snowstorm (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title | Areas named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-03-20 | DR-4766 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding | 4 |
| 2024-03-20 | DR-4765 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding | 3 |
| 2024-01-07 | DR-4753 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes | 1 |
| 2023-04-14 | FM-5464 | Fire | Queens River Fire | 1 |
| 2022-05-12 | DR-4653 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | 6 |
| 2021-08-21 | EM-3563 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri | 6 |
| 2020-03-30 | DR-4505 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | 7 |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3515 | Biological | Covid-19 | 1 |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3440 | Biological | Covid-19 | 5 |
| 2015-04-03 | DR-4212 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | 5 |
| 2013-03-22 | DR-4107 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | 5 |
| 2012-11-03 | DR-4089 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | 4 |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3355 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | 5 |
| 2011-09-03 | DR-4027 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Irene | 6 |
| 2011-08-27 | EM-3334 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene | 5 |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Flood insurance claims in Rhode Island
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $139 million on 6,960 claims in 5 Rhode Island counties. Claims count insured losses only.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk across Rhode Island's counties
How FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rhode Island's counties overall: a model of expected future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of events.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Next
- Floods in Rhode IslandEvery recorded flood in Rhode Island: by year, month and county
- Hurricanes and tropical storms in Rhode IslandEvery recorded hurricane or tropical storm record in Rhode Island: by year, month and county
- Winter storms in Rhode IslandEvery recorded winter storm record in Rhode Island: by year, month and county
- Hail in Rhode IslandEvery recorded hail report in Rhode Island: by year, month and county
- Compare Rhode Island with another stateSide by side: storm records per square mile, deaths per million, declarations
- How Rhode Island ranks among the statesStates ranked by FEMA disaster declarations
- Look up a Rhode Island county's hazard riskFEMA's rating for each hazard beside the county's record
- Download Rhode Island's FEMA declarations (CSV)31 rows: every declaration in the state, for your own analysis