Rhode Island damaging wind history
From 2016 to 2025, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center logged 151 damaging thunderstorm wind reports in Rhode Island, 141 of them 58 mph or more and 2 of 75 mph or more (measured or estimated), on 55 storm days. The day with the most reports since 1955 was February 24, 2016 (15 reports in Rhode Island). The highest wind on record is 115 mph, on October 18, 1990. 2026 so far: 2 preliminary reports.
Rhode Island's biggest wind day since 2016: February 24, 2016
15 damaging wind reports in Rhode Island, 1 of 75 mph or more. All storm reports that day →
Source: National Storms (nationalstorms.com), CC BY 4.0, data from NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports.
Days with the most damaging wind reports in Rhode Island
| Storm day | Wind reports | 75 mph+ | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2016 | 15 | 1 | 76 mph |
| August 3, 2015 | 12 | 1 | 83 mph |
| August 18, 2023 | 9 | 0 | 58 mph |
| November 13, 2021 | 9 | 0 | 70 mph |
| June 26, 2024 | 7 | 0 | 58 mph |
| May 20, 2019 | 7 | 0 | 58 mph |
| August 12, 2016 | 7 | 0 | 58 mph |
| June 23, 2015 | 7 | 0 | 58 mph |
| August 10, 2012 | 7 | 0 | 64 mph |
| November 15, 2020 | 6 | 0 | 68 mph |
| July 22, 2016 | 6 | 0 | 58 mph |
| June 27, 1983 | 6 | – | – |
| March 4, 2008 | 5 | 0 | 72 mph |
| July 18, 2006 | 5 | 0 | 58 mph |
| May 21, 1996 | 5 | 0 | 71 mph |
Highest wind speeds reported in Rhode Island
| Storm day | Wind reports | 75 mph+ | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 18, 1990 | 4 | 1 | 115 mph |
| August 3, 2015 | 12 | 1 | 83 mph |
| August 9, 2000 | 1 | 1 | 81 mph |
| June 22, 1997 | 4 | 3 | 81 mph |
| September 23, 1989 | 1 | 1 | 81 mph |
| June 30, 1987 | 1 | 1 | 81 mph |
| February 24, 2016 | 15 | 1 | 76 mph |
| August 25, 2020 | 4 | 1 | 75 mph |
| September 14, 1956 | 1 | 0 | 74 mph |
| March 5, 2008 | 2 | 0 | 72 mph |
Rhode Island damaging wind reports by year
| Year | Damaging wind reports | 58 mph+ | 75 mph+ | Highest | Days with reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 2 | – | – | – | 2 |
| 2025 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 64 mph | 4 |
| 2024 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 58 mph | 4 |
| 2023 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 62 mph | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 63 mph | 4 |
| 2021 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 70 mph | 4 |
| 2020 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 75 mph | 8 |
| 2019 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 59 mph | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 58 mph | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 58 mph | 3 |
| 2016 | 41 | 36 | 1 | 76 mph | 10 |
| 2015 | 24 | 22 | 1 | 83 mph | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 58 mph | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 69 mph | 1 |
| 2012 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 64 mph | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 60 mph | 3 |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 58 mph | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 58 mph | 2 |
| 2008 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 72 mph | 6 |
| 2007 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 64 mph | 4 |
| 2006 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 69 mph | 7 |
| 2005 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 60 mph | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 71 mph | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 58 mph | 1 |
| 2002 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 58 mph | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 58 mph | 2 |
| 2000 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 81 mph | 5 |
| 1999 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 58 mph | 3 |
| 1998 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 58 mph | 3 |
| 1997 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 81 mph | 1 |
| 1996 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 71 mph | 2 |
| 1995 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 63 mph | 4 |
| 1994 | 3 | – | – | – | 2 |
| 1993 | 3 | – | – | – | 2 |
| 1992 | 3 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 1991 | 2 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 1990 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 115 mph | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 81 mph | 1 |
| 1987 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 81 mph | 2 |
| 1986 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 59 mph | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 1983 | 9 | – | – | – | 2 |
| 1981 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 69 mph | 1 |
| 1979 | 3 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 1974 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 69 mph | 2 |
| 1973 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 58 mph | 2 |
| 1971 | 2 | – | – | – | 2 |
| 1969 | 3 | – | – | – | 3 |
| 1961 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 62 mph | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | – | – | – | 2 |
| 1956 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 74 mph | 2 |
* 2026: preliminary SPC reports; many have no wind speed yet.
More for Rhode Island: tornado history and paths · hail history · all states · derechos
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Severe Weather Database (SVRGIS) damaging-wind reports, 1955–2025, and SPC preliminary storm reports for 2026 (data through November 6, 2026). Wind speeds are measured or estimated by spotters, the public and NWS staff; SPC records them in knots and we show mph. 58 mph is the National Weather Service's severe-thunderstorm wind threshold.
Guide: Hail vs wind damage