State Weather Records
Also known as climate extremes, state weather records represent the utmost occurrence of a phenomena within Rhode Island’s geographic area. Official all-time records are vetted through the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) State Climate Extremes Committee. Monthly record values may have occurred on multiple dates, however, only the most recent date and location are displayed in the tables.
All-Time Records
| Element | Value | Dates(s) | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 104°F | August 2, 1975 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Minimum Temperature | -28°F | January 11, 1942 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 12.13 in. | September 16-17, 1932 | Westerly | Westerly 1 W (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Snowfall | 30 in. | February 7, 1978 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| Snow Depth | 42 in. | February 7, 1978 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
Data Source: National Centers for Environmental Information State Climate Extremes Committee.
Monthly Records
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 71°F | January 13, 2020 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| Minimum Temperature | -28°F | January 11, 1942 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 40.1°F | January 1950 | New Shoreham | Block Island State Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 17.3°F | January 2004 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 3.93 in. | January 7, 1962 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation (Unverified) | 5.70 in. | January 10, 2024 | Richmond | Richmond 3.7 NNE (CoCoRaHS) |
| 24-Hour Snowfall | 22 in. | January 12, 2011 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Snow Depth | 36 in. | January 25, 1948 | Smithfield | Greenville (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 14.38 in. | January 1979 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.26 in. | January 1955 | Smithfield | Greenville (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 51.5 in. | January 2011 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 73°F | February 16, 2023 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Minimum Temperature | -22°F | February 7, 1934 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 39.6°F | February 2018 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int’l Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 15.4°F | February 2015 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Snow Depth | 42 in. | February 7, 1978 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 9.84 in. | February 1969 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.39 in. | February 1987 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 52.2 in. | February 2015 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall (Unverified) | 57.8 in. | February 2015 | Glocester | West Glocester 3.4 SE (CoCoRaHS) |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 90°F | March 29, 1945 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Minimum Temperature | -13°F | March 6, 1948 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 48.4°F | March 1946 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 21.6°F | March 1916 | Burrillville | Wallum Lake (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Snowfall | 25.1 in. | March 13, 2018 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Snow Depth | 36 in. | March 1, 2015 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 19.37 in. | March 2010 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation (Unverified) | 19.62 in. | March 2010 | North Kingstown | North Kingstown 3 N (CoCoRaHS) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.07 in. | March 1915 | Providence | Providence WB City |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 41.3 in. | March 2018 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Element | Value | Dates | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 98°F | April 19, 1976 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Minimum Temperature | 8°F | April 1, 1923 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 54.5°F | April 1950 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 38.7°F | April 1911 | Burrillville | Wallum Lake (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 4.30 in. | April 10, 1983 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| 24-Hour Snowfall | 23.8 in. | April 1, 1997 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| Snow Depth | 24 in | April 1, 1997 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 12.96 in. | April 1983 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.69 in. | April 1963 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 31.4 in. | March 1996 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 98°F | May 31, 1942 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Minimum Temperature | 20°F | May 19, 1944 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 65.3°F | May 1911 | Providence | Providence (1) (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 46.4°F | May 1917 | Burrillville | Wallum Lake (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 5.15 in. | May 31, 1984 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| 24-Hour Precipitation (Unverified) | 6.86 in. | May 16, 2024 | South Kingstown | Wakefield-Peacedale 3.1 NE (CoCoRaHS) |
| 24-Hour Snowfall | 10.8 in. | May 9, 1977 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Snow Depth | 10 in. | May 9, 1977 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 10.58 in. | May 1948 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.36 in. | May 2015 | Middletown | Newport State Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation (Unverified) | 0.16 in. | May 2015 | Middletown | Middletown 1.1 SW (CoCoRaHS) |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 12.1 in. | May 1977 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 101°F | June 26, 1952 | Providence | Providence WB City |
| Minimum Temperature | 28°F | June 5, 1947 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 72.5°F | June 1899 | Providence | Providence (1) (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 55.4°F | June 1916 | Burrillville | Wallum Lake (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 5.44 in. | June 14, 1998 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation (Unverified) | 5.50 in. | June 8, 2013 | South Kingstown | Kingston 5.5 W (CoCoRaHS) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 14.79 in. | June 1998 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.00 in. | June 1949 | Exeter | Austin (COOP) |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 103°F | July 22, 2011 | Tiverton | Tiverton (COOP) |
| Minimum Temperature | 31°F | July 24, 1912 | Burrillville | Wallum Lake (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 79.7°F | July 1911 | Providence | Providence (1) (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 65.1°F | July 1915 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 5.21 in. | July 1, 2009 | Westerly | Westerly State Airport |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 12.07 in. | July 2009 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation (Unverified) | 12.56 in. | July 2021 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket 1.8 WNW (CoCoRaHS) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.06 in. | July 1946 | North Kingstown | Quonset Point Naval Air Station |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 104°F | August 2, 1975 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Minimum Temperature | 27°F | August 25, 1940 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 78.7 | August 2018 | Tiverton | Tiverton (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 64.0 | August 1903 | Narragansett | Narragansett Pier (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 7.65 in. | August 9, 1992 | Tiverton | Adamsville 2 NW (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 13.82 in. | August 1946 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.16 in. | August 1984 | New Shoreham | Block Island State Airport |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 101°F | September 9, 1953 | North Kingstown | Quonset Point Naval Air Station |
| Minimum Temperature | 20°F | September 30, 1941 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 70.6°F | September 2015 | Tiverton | Tiverton (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 54.6°F | September 1911 | Burrillville | Wallum Lake (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 12.13 in. | September 16-17, 1932 | Westerly | Westerly 1 W (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 12.66 in. | September 1932 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation (Unverified) | 14.30 in. | September 2023 | North Smithfield | North Smithfield 0.7 SE (CoCoRaHS) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.21 in. | September 1994 | New Shoreham | Block Island State Airport |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 90°F | October 5, 1967 | North Kingstown | Quonset Point Naval Air Station |
| Minimum Temperature | 7°F | October 28, 1940 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 61.4°F | October 1947 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 44.5°F | October 1911 | Burrillville | Wallum Lake (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 6.8 in. | October 15, 2005 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Snowfall | 6.2 in. | October 30, 2020 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Snowfall (Unverified) | 6.6 in. | October 30, 2011 | Glocester | West Glocester 3.4 SE (CoCoRaHS) |
| Snow Depth | 5.0 in. | October 30, 2020 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Snow Depth (Unverified) | 6.5 in. | October 30, 2011 | Glocester | West Glocester 3.4 SE (CoCoRaHS) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 16.70 in. | October 2005 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.15 in. | October 1924 | Providence | Providence WB City |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 7.5 in. | October 2011 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 82°F | November 2, 1950 | Smithfield | Greenville (COOP) |
| Minimum Temperature | -4°F | November 24, 1989 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 51.5°F | November 1927 | Pawtucket | Pawtucket (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 35.4°F | November 1904 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 5.17 in. | November 11, 1897 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Snowfall | 14.5 in. | November 19, 1986 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Snow Depth | 14.0 in. | November 19, 1986 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 13.00 in. | November 1983 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.31 in. | November 2012 | Middletown | Newport State Airport |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 15.2 in. | November 1986 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Element | Value | Date | Location | Station Name |
| Maximum Temperature | 77°F | December 7, 1998 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Minimum Temperature | -21°F | December 17, 1942 | Richmond | Wood River Junction (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 47.1°F | December 2015 | Middletown | Newport State Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 17.7°F | December 1989 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Precipitation | 6.63 in. | December 20, 2002 | South Kingstown | Kingston 1 NW (COOP) |
| 24-Hour Snowfall | 20.0 in. | December 12, 1992 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Snow Depth | 27.0 in. | December 31, 1945 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 13.46 in. | December 2023 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.58 in. | December 1955 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation (Unverified) | 0.55 in. | December 2021 | Middletown | Middletown 1.1 SW (CoCoRaHS) |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 34.0 in. | December 1945 | Smithfield | Greenville (COOP) |
Miscellaneous Records
| Element | Value/Criteria | Date(s) | Location | Station Name |
| Highest Annual Average Temperature | 54.5°F | 1949 | Providence | Providence WB City |
| Lowest Annual Average Temperature | 45.0°F | 1904 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Average Temperature | 78.7°F | August 2018 | Tiverton | Tiverton (COOP) |
| Lowest Monthly Average Temperature | 15.4°F | February 2015 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Highest Weekly Average Temperature | 85.6°F | August 10-17, 1944 | Warwick | R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport |
| Lowest Weekly Average Temperature | 2.9°F | December 28, 1917 – January 4, 1918 | Providence | Providence WB City |
| Longest Heatwave | 90°F or higher | July 14 – 21, 2013 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Longest Period of Below Freezing | 32°F or lower | December 12-30, 1989 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Element | Value | Date(s) | Location | Station Name |
| Highest Annual Precipitation | 74.60 in. | 1972 | Scituate | North Scituate 4 W (COOP) |
| Lowest Annual Precipitation | 24.08 in. | 1965 | New Shoreham | Block Island State Airport |
| Highest Annual Snowfall | 126.0 in. | 1996 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Lowest Annual Snowfall | 3.5 in. | 2023 | New Shoreham | Block Island (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation | 19.37 in. | March 2010 | South Kingstown | Kingston (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Precipitation (Unverified) | 19.62 in. | March 2010 | North Kingstown | North Kingstown 3 N (CoCoRaHS) |
| Lowest Monthly Precipitation | 0.00 in. | June 1949 | Exeter | Austin (COOP) |
| Highest Monthly Snowfall | 52.2 in. | February 2015 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Highest Weekly Precipitation | 12.48 in. | October 8 – 15, 2005 | Foster | North Foster (COOP) |
| Highest Weekly Snowfall | 38.0 in. | February 6-13, 1978 | Woonsocket | Woonsocket (COOP) |
| Element | Value/Criteria | Date(s) | Location(s) | Source |
| Highest Sustained Wind Speed | 100 mph | September 21, 1938 | Providence | NWS Boston/Norton, MA |
| Highest Wind Gust | 125 mph | September 21, 1938 | Providence | NWS Boston/Norton, MA |
| Largest Hailstone (diameter) | 2.75 in. | June 30, 1998 | Richmond | NCEI Storm Events Database |
| Strongest Hurricane | Category 3 (Saffin-Simpson Scale) | September 21, 1938 | Statewide | NWS Boston/Norton, MA |
| Strongest Tornado* | EF2 (Enhanced Fujita Scale) | August 18, 2023 | Scituate, Johnston, and North Providence | NCEI Storm Events Database |
*Similar intensity to the August 7, 1986 Cranston-Providence F2 tornado.
Spotlight: Record High Temperature
In late July 1975, an expansive ridge of high pressure settled over the eastern U.S and started a four-day heat wave that peaked at 104°F on Saturday, August 2. The above map displays the weather systems over the U.S. on that day, note the author’s notation. Rhode Island’s second-highest maximum temperature was observed on July 22, 2011 (103°F in Tiverton).
Spotlight: Record Precipitation Event
Rhode Island’s highest 24-hour precipitation total was observed on September 16, 1932 in Westerly (12.13”). A few days prior, a tropical storm that formed in the Gulf of Mexico merged with a low-pressure system off the U.S. east coast. The resultant storm dumped heavy rain from Florida to Maine. The highest observed total from the event was recorded in Westerly. A June 1933 New England Water Works Association publication notes “Mr. Barnes, for over forty years a careful observer at this place, states: ‘The storm broke at 3:00 AM on September 16 and rained in sheets continuously until 10:30 PM that night.’ His record shows that in 19 ½ hours, 12.13” of rain fell. Learn more about this event. The state’s second-highest 24-hour precipitation total (unverified) was recorded by a CoCoRaHS observer on September 6, 2022 (9.17”, Cranston 1.3 N).
A Note on Accuracy
The State Climate Office, the National Weather Service, and the Northeast Regional Climate Center jointly verify all potential new state records taken by CoCoRaHS observers.
Several CoCoRaHS precipitation observations are higher than those recorded by official weather stations. If the measurement is confirmed shortly after the observation, CoCoRaHS observations can become official state records. Since CoCoRaHS observers manually record precipitation, they are more accurate than automated gauges.
