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Winter in Washington County, Rhode Island
73 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
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.
Washington County, Rhode Island, has 73 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 29 different years.
February is the busiest month, with 28 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 48 events against 25 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 12.1% of the 605 winter events recorded in Rhode Island; its 22.2 per 100 square miles compares with 58.5 statewide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 73 | 605 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 22.2 | 58.5 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.6 | 5.5 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 3 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | February | February | January |
By year
Seasonality
17Feb
28Mar
14Apr
3May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
0Dec
11
Recorded events
All 73 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 2026 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2026 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2026 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2022 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jan 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2021 | Winter Storm | — | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2019 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2018 | Winter Weather | — | $4K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2018 | Winter Weather | — | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 2017 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2017 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jan 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Apr 2016 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jan 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2015 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2013 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Dec 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Mar 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2006 | Winter Storm | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2003 | Winter Storm | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2001 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Mar 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Apr 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 1996 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Mar 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Washington County had?
73 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Washington County?
22 Feb 2026 (Blizzard). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Washington County?
The heavy snow of 1 Apr 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $100K.
How does Washington County compare with Rhode Island for winter?
22.2 events per 100 square miles against 58.5 statewide; the county holds 73 of the state's 605 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 Winter hub and the county page.