Providence, Rhode Island tornadoes

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10confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Providence since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: June 26, 2024, EF1.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Providence

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The record

At a glance

Total10within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.1average since 1950
Peak monthAugust4 of 10
StrongestF2Aug 7, 1986
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries24whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Providence.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

40 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 0May: 0Jun: 2Jul: 0Aug: 4Sep: 2Oct: 2Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

August is the peak month, with 4 of 10 tornadoes.

By time of day

30 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 1: 1: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 0: 3: 13 PM: 1: 0: 06 PM: 0: 0: 09 PM: 3: 0: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 1:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

30 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 11990: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 3: 2: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
1
EF1
7
EF2
2

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Strongest

F2, August 7, 1986

4 mile path Longest path

9.1 miles, EF2

August 18, 2023, whole path Widest

1,000 yards, F2

August 7, 1986
Every tornado

All 10 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jun 26, 2024EF10.55 mi50 yd00
Jun 26, 2024EF18.6 mi100 yd00
Sep 13, 2023EF10.21 mi60 yd00
Aug 18, 2023EF17.6 mi80 yd00
Aug 18, 2023EF29.1 mi250 yd01
Oct 23, 2018EF11.5 mi250 yd00
Oct 18, 1990F14.5 mi73 yd00
Sep 23, 1989F00.2 mi40 yd03
Aug 7, 1986F24 mi1,000 yd020
Aug 7, 1986F10.5 mi100 yd00
Nearby

Providence and its county

Providence is in Providence County, where NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.