National Storms

Rhode Island tornado history

From 1950 through 2025, 20 tornadoes touched Rhode Island, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, the 48th most of the 48 contiguous states and DC. None was rated F4/EF4 or stronger by the National Weather Service; along their paths they killed 0 people and injured 24. 2016–2025 brought 9 tornadoes.

20tornadoes since 1950
92016–2025
0F3/EF3 or stronger
0deaths
24injuries
Jun 26, 2024latest in final record

Map of every Rhode Island tornado path since 1950

Rating: 012345 unknown or preliminaryLines run from the start to the end point of each path; dots mark where each tornado touched down.

All 20 paths. Zoom in to your county; click a path for its date and rating.

1972: 1 F01985: 1 F11986: 2 F11986: 1 F21989: 1 F01990: 1 F11994: 1 F02000: 1 F02008: 1 EF12012: 1 EF02018: 1 EF12019: 1 EF02021: 2 EF02023: 3 EF12023: 1 EF22024: 1 EF119501957196419711978198519921999200620132020max 4
Tornadoes per year in Rhode Island by rating, 1950–2025. Colors: F/EF0 (yellow) to F/EF5 (black); gray = unknown rating.

Source: National Storms (nationalstorms.com), CC BY 4.0, data from NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports.

Most recent tornadoes in Rhode Island

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Jun 26, 2024EF18.6 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI → MA
Sep 13, 2023EF10.2 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI
Sep 13, 2023EF10.2 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI
Aug 18, 2023EF17.6 mi0 / 0Bristol County, MA → RI
Aug 18, 2023EF29.1 mi0 / 1Providence County, RI
Nov 13, 2021EF01.5 mi0 / 0Washington County, RI
Nov 13, 2021EF06.1 mi0 / 0Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT → RI
Oct 2, 2019EF00.2 mi0 / 0Newport County, RI
Oct 23, 2018EF11.5 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI
Aug 10, 2012EF03.8 mi0 / 0Washington County, RI
Jul 23, 2008EF14.3 mi0 / 0Bristol County, RI → MA
Aug 16, 2000F00.2 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI
Aug 13, 1994F00.5 mi0 / 0Kent County, RI
Oct 18, 1990F14.5 mi0 / 0Kent County, RI
Sep 23, 1989F00.2 mi0 / 3Providence County, RI
Aug 8, 1986F17.0 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI → MA
Aug 7, 1986F24.0 mi0 / 20Providence County, RI
Aug 7, 1986F10.5 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI
Aug 26, 1985F11.5 mi0 / 0Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT → RI
Sep 14, 1972F02.0 mi0 / 0Bristol County, RI

The 50 strongest Rhode Island tornadoes, ranked by rating, deaths and path length: Strongest tornadoes in Rhode Island history

Longest tornado paths in Rhode Island

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted in
Aug 18, 2023EF29.1 mi0 / 1Providence County, RI
Jun 26, 2024EF18.6 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI → MA
Aug 18, 2023EF17.6 mi0 / 0Bristol County, MA → RI
Aug 8, 1986F17.0 mi0 / 0Providence County, RI → MA
Nov 13, 2021EF06.1 mi0 / 0Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT → RI
Oct 18, 1990F14.5 mi0 / 0Kent County, RI
Jul 23, 2008EF14.3 mi0 / 0Bristol County, RI → MA
Aug 7, 1986F24.0 mi0 / 20Providence County, RI
Aug 10, 2012EF03.8 mi0 / 0Washington County, RI
Sep 14, 1972F02.0 mi0 / 0Bristol County, RI

For tornadoes that crossed into another state, the path length, deaths and injuries are for the whole path.

Tornadoes by county

CountyTornadoes since 19502016–2025StrongestDeaths along pathsMost recent
Providence County137F2/EF20Jun 26, 2024
Washington County21F0/EF00Nov 13, 2021
Newport County21F0/EF00Oct 2, 2019
Kent County20F1/EF10Aug 13, 1994
Bristol County20F1/EF10Jul 23, 2008

Cities with 5 or more tornadoes within 10 miles

Central Falls Cranston East Providence Pawtucket Providence Warwick Woonsocket

Tornadoes in Rhode Island by year

YearTornadoesF/EF012345UnknownDeathsInjuries
20241010000000
20234031000001
20212200000000
20191100000000
20181010000000
20121100000000
20081010000000
20001100000000
19941100000000
19901010000000
19891100000003
198630210000020
19851010000000
19721100000000

More for Rhode Island: strongest tornadoes · damaging wind history · hail history · all states

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Severe Weather Database (SVRGIS) tornado file, 1950–2025, and SPC preliminary storm reports for 2026 (data through November 6, 2026). Ratings are the ones the National Weather Service assigned: Fujita (F) scale before Feb 1, 2007, Enhanced Fujita (EF) after. Paths are drawn as straight lines from the start to the end point SPC records; real paths curve. City and county boundaries: US Census Bureau.