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Wind in Washington County, Rhode Island
185 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 185 wind events in Washington County, Rhode Island, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 37 years.
October is the busiest month, with 24 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 108 events against 73 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 17.2% of the 1,076 wind events recorded in Rhode Island; its 56.2 per 100 square miles compares with 104.1 statewide.
51 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 8 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Rhode Island
| Measure | Washington County | Rhode Island | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 185 | 1,076 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 56.2 | 104.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 14.2 | 9.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 2 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | October | March | June |
By year
Seasonality
23Feb
15Mar
22Apr
10May
3Jun
8Jul
16Aug
14Sep
8Oct
24Nov
22Dec
20
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 185 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2024 | High Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2024 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2023 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $800 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $800 | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 79 mph | $6K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2022 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $800 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 60 mph | $800 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Oct 2021 | High Wind | 77 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2021 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2020 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 2020 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Sep 2020 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | High Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Feb 2020 | High Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2020 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $300 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2019 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2019 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Oct 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Oct 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $200 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Oct 2019 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Oct 2019 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Oct 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Oct 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Oct 2019 | High Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2019 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 45 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Nov 2018 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Oct 2018 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2018 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2017 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jan 2017 | High Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2016 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $300 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Nov 2016 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $200 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Nov 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Oct 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Mar 2016 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2016 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2016 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Sep 2015 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2015 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2015 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Mar 2015 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Nov 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 2014 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 2014 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Nov 2013 | High Wind | 59 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2013 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2013 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2013 | High Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2012 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 86 mph | $75K | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 2012 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2011 | High Wind | 68 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Dec 2009 | High Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2008 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 2008 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Nov 2007 | High Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2007 | High Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Oct 2006 | High Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2006 | Strong Wind | 38 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2005 | High Wind | 81 mph | $80K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Oct 2005 | High Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Sep 2005 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2001 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2000 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2000 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jun 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 May 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Apr 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2000 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Nov 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Oct 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Oct 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Sep 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Sep 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Mar 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Apr 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Mar 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Mar 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 1998 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 1998 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Dec 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Nov 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1997 | High Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jul 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Mar 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 1997 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 1996 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Dec 1996 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Oct 1996 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1996 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 1996 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 115 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Washington County had?
185 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Washington County?
7 Mar 2025 (Strong Wind, 49 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Washington County?
The thunderstorm wind of 24 Aug 1996, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $750K.
How does Washington County compare with Rhode Island for wind?
56.2 events per 100 square miles against 104.1 statewide; the county holds 185 of the state's 1,076 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.