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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Warwick, RI

Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.

Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated

56 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Warwick, Rhode Island since 1851, 12 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 28 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
12

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
44

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
28

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
0

no recorded deaths

What the records show for Warwick

The strongest storm to pass near Warwick was an unnamed storm in 1869, a Category 2 hurricane with 109 mph winds when its centre passed 7 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1944, whose centre came within 6 miles. The record near Warwick begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 50 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 6 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 56 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Of the 49 Rhode Island cities on this site, 22% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Warwick. The highest rating among the 28 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 2 times; the most recent, on August 18, 2023, came within 9 miles. Of the 28, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 17 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 11. The most recent tornado was on June 26, 2024. Of the 49 Rhode Island cities, 51% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Warwick. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 54 times since 1956, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Warwick has more hail reports within 10 miles than 77% of the 49 Rhode Island cities.

Compare Warwick's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Warwick

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Warwick, Rhode Island, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021IdaSep 250 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
2021HenriAug 2233 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2021ElsaJul 93 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
2013AndreaJun 85 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2008HannaSep 719 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
2007BarryJun 44 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2006BerylJul 2168 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
2004HermineAug 3129 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
1999FloydSep 1744 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1996JosephineOct 953 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1996BerthaJul 1336 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1991BobAug 1912 miCategory 2 (96 mph)Category 3
1985GloriaSep 2768 miCategory 1 (84 mph)Category 4
1976BelleAug 1069 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 3
1966AlmaJun 1434 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1961EstherSep 2662 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 5
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 1538 miTropical storm (64 mph)Tropical storm
1960DonnaSep 1229 miCategory 1 (83 mph)Category 4
1960BrendaJul 3054 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
1959CindyJul 1131 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1955DianeAug 1956 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1954EdnaSep 1152 miCategory 2 (109 mph)Category 3
1954CarolAug 3122 miCategory 2 (109 mph)Category 3
1952AbleSep 273 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 2
1944Unnamed 1944 stormOct 2175 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 4
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 156 miCategory 1 (87 mph)Category 5
1934Unnamed 1934 stormSep 949 miTropical storm (51 mph)Category 2
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 2029 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1923Unnamed 1923 stormOct 1934 miTropical storm (55 mph)Tropical storm
1916Unnamed 1916 stormJul 2118 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 2
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1724 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 526 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 1
1913Unnamed 1913 stormOct 254 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1908Unnamed 1908 stormMay 3116 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1907Unnamed 1907 stormJun 3026 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1522 miCategory 1 (84 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 1611 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1897Unnamed 1897 stormSep 2420 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1896Unnamed 1896 stormSep 1039 miTropical storm (68 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 1031 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 3
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2549 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormOct 1265 miTropical storm (45 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 2672 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 1
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1211 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 2220 miTropical storm (47 mph)Category 3
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 2474 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormAug 1938 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 531 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 3051 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 272 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1869Unnamed 1869 stormOct 452 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1869Unnamed 1869 stormSep 87 miCategory 2 (109 mph)Category 3
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 312 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 1
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 2853 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1858Unnamed 1858 stormSep 1621 miCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 2
1851Unnamed 1851 stormOct 1911 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Warwick: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.

Tornadoes within 25 miles of Warwick

By decade

  • 2020s10
  • 2010s4
  • 2000s3
  • 1990s3
  • 1980s5
  • 1970s1
  • 1960s1
  • 1950s1
Strongest tornadoes near Warwick, Rhode Island
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Aug 18, 2023EF29 mi9.1 mi0 / 1
Aug 7, 1986F24 mi4 mi0 / 20
Jun 26, 2024EF19 mi0.55 mi0 / 0
Jun 26, 2024EF113 mi8.6 mi0 / 0
Sep 13, 2023EF115 mi0.21 mi0 / 0
Sep 13, 2023EF116 mi0.21 mi0 / 0
Sep 13, 2023EF120 mi1.61 mi0 / 0
Aug 18, 2023EF116 mi7.6 mi0 / 0
Oct 23, 2018EF121 mi0.8 mi0 / 0
Oct 23, 2018EF111 mi1.5 mi0 / 0
Jul 23, 2008EF17 mi4.28 mi0 / 0
Aug 21, 2004F125 mi6 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 28, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Warwick

The Storm Prediction Center has 54 hail reports within 10 miles of Warwick since 1956, made on 36 separate days. Of these, 25 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 7 days, most recently July 23, 2008. The most recent report is from August 26, 2024. June has the most reports, 22.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Radar-estimated hail days in Warwick since 2019 →

Weather by month in Warwick

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Providence T F Green Airport, RI, in Warwick at 60 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 84°F and low of 65°F; January is the coolest, at 38°F and 22°F. March is the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 47.7 inches over 79 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 48% of the year's precipitation (23.0 of 47.7 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 56 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (22); a normal September there has highs of 75°F and 4.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 12 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 109 nights a year. Snowfall averages 36.6 inches a year, most of it in February. That 47.7 inches is more than at 3 of the 10 Rhode Island stations used on this site (30%). Warren, 8 miles east, has its own station (Tiverton, RI): 49.4 inches a year, 1.7 more than here, and a July average high of 85°F against 84°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Conimicut Light, RI, 4 miles east, averaged 76°F in July and 38°F in February over 2021–2025. No month averaged 80°F. Sea level at the Providence tide gauge, 6 miles from Warwick, has risen 1.04 ± 0.05 inches per decade from 1938 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 10.4 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 58 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Providence T F Green Airport, RI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Snow inWater °F
Jan38224.0710.340
Feb41243.4610.538
Mar48304.976.443
Apr59404.370.650
May69493.470.059
Jun78593.860.068
Jul84652.960.076
Aug82643.660.075
Sep75574.260.071
Oct64454.270.263
Nov53364.361.053
Dec43284.787.644
Year614347.77936.657

Averages for 1991–2020 at Providence T F Green Airport, RI (60 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Conimicut Light, RI, from NOAA Tides & Currents. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Warwick

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 264 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Warwick: 112 thunderstorm wind reports, 87 floods, 47 flash floods, 12 lightning strikes and 6 heavy rain events. They killed 2 people and injured 14, and the NWS estimated $63.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on June 26, 2024. July has had the most flash floods, 19 of 47. Of the 49 Rhode Island cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 34 have had fewer than Warwick.

  • March 14, 2010: flood 3 miles from the centre of Warwick — 1 killed, $1.3 million damage.

  • June 24, 2008: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Warwick — 1 killed.

  • August 5, 2009: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Warwick — 9 injured.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.

Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings

Flood insurance policyholders in Warwick's 3 ZIP codes have filed 796 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $11.6 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from March 2010 Nor'easter in 2010: 282 claims (35% of all) and $8.1 million, then Hurricane Bob in 1991 with 61 and Not a named storm in 1982 with 39. 56% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 38 Rhode Island cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 36 have fewer than Warwick.

Flood insurance claims in Warwick by named event
EventClaimsPaid
March 2010 Nor'easter2010282$8.1 million
Hurricane Bob199161$298,000
Not a named storm198239$163,000
Hurricane Sandy201227$479,000
December Nor'easter202320$1.1 million

Kent County, which includes Warwick, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1978, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 6 snowstorms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms and Flooding, on March 20, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Kent County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, inland flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for tornadoes, coastal flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $32.3 million a year, the 2nd highest of 5 Rhode Island counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $23.4 million (73%), is from inland flooding.

Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.

Cities near Warwick