Weather Stations
Where is climate data collected in Rhode Island? The National Weather Service, alongside other Federal agencies, maintains weather stations at airports, public institutions, and the homes of volunteers. Additionally, the National Ocean Service operates marine-based observation stations across Narragansett Bay that collect weather, water, and climate data. The State Climate Office primarily relies on these stations to track, monitor, and research Rhode Island's climate.
Rhode Island Weather Stations
Land Stations
| Station Name | Location | Elevation | Established | Observation Frequency | Parameters |
| Block Island (COOP) | New Shoreham | 130 ft. | 2015 | Daily | Temperature, Precipitation |
| Block Island State Airport | New Shoreham | 105 ft. | 1948 | Hourly | Temperature, Dewpoint, Wind, Pressure, Precipitation |
| Coventry (COOP) | Coventry | 260 ft. | 2011 | Daily | Precipitation |
| Kingston - URI (COOP) | South Kingstown | 117 ft. | 1893 | Daily | Temperature, Precipitation |
| Newport State Airport | Middletown | 148 ft. | 1996 | Hourly | Temperature, Dewpoint, Wind, Pressure, Precipitation |
| North Central State Airport | Smithfield | 441 ft. | 1992 | Hourly | Temperature, Dewpoint, Wind, Pressure, Precipitation |
| North Foster (COOP) | Foster | 630 ft. | 1974 | Daily | Temperature, Precipitation |
| Quonset State Airport | North Kingstown | 20 ft. | 1947 | Hourly | Temperature, Dewpoint, Wind, Pressure, Precipitation |
| R.I. T.F. Green Int'l Airport | Warwick | 51 ft. | 1932 | Hourly | Temperature, Dewpoint, Wind, Pressure, Precipitation |
| Westerly State Airport | Westerly | 65 ft. | 1999 | Hourly | Temperature, Dewpoint, Wind, Pressure, Precipitation |
| Woonsocket (COOP) | Woonsocket | 360 ft. | 1948 | Daily | Precipitation |
Marine Stations
| Station Name | Location | Elevation | Established | Observation Frequency | Parameters |
| Conimicut Light | Upper Narragansett Bay | 8.09 ft. | 1999 | 6 mins. | Tides, Wind, Air Temperature, Water Temperature, Pressure |
| Newport | Coasters Harbor Island | 7.03 ft. | 1930 | 6 mins. | Tides, Wind, Air Temperature, Water Temperature, Pressure |
| Port of Davisville | Quonset Point | 9.55 ft. | 2022 | 6 mins. | Wind, Air Temperature, Humidity, Pressure |
| Potter Cove | Prudence Island | 39.37 ft. | 1999 | 6 mins. | Wind, Air Temperature, Pressure |
| Providence | Providence River | 8.96 ft. | 1938 | 6 mins. | Tides, Wind, Air Temperature, Water Temperature, Pressure |
| Providence Visibility | Providence River | 12.69 ft. | 2016 | 6 mins. | Wind, Air Temperature, Visibility, Pressure |
| Quonset Point | Quonset Point | 6.97 ft. | 1999 | 6 mins. | Tides, Wind, Air Temperature, Water Temperature, Conductivity, Pressure |
Types of Weather Stations
Automated (ASOS, AWOS)
Automated Surface Observing Stations (ASOS) and Automated Weather Observing Stations (AWOS) at airports record hourly temperature, precipitation, dewpoint, pressure, wind, and cloud cover data. Marine stations are also automated and collect weather data, water levels (i.e., tides), and other parameters.
Manual (COOP)
The National Weather Service’s Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) is a voluntary service where participants collect daily temperature and precipitation data. Volunteers donate their time to record observations that are important for tracking long-term climate patterns.
Additional Resources
The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network is a large organization that provides daily precipitation measurements. CoCoRaHS stations provide hyper-local precipitation information that isn’t captured by airport or COOP sites. There are over 120 active CoCoRaHS stations across Rhode Island.