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Storm Events Database
Event Details:
| Event | Tornado |
| -- Scale | EF2 |
| -- Length | 9.1 Miles |
| -- Width | 250 Yards |
| State | RHODE ISLAND |
| County/Area | PROVIDENCE |
| WFO | BOX |
| Report Source | NWS Storm Survey |
| NCEI Data Source | CSV |
| Begin Date | 2023-08-18 07:40 EST-5 |
| Begin Location | 1NNE WATERMAN FOUR CORNER |
| Begin Lat/Lon | 41.7987/-71.5741 |
| End Date | 2023-08-18 07:57 EST-5 |
| End Location | 2W WOODLAWN |
| End Lat/Lon | 41.8735/-71.4353 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 1/0 |
| Property Damage | 250.00K |
| Crop Damage | 0.00K |
| Episode Narrative | A high amplitude, negatively tilted trough moving across the Great Lakes and into New England along with cold and warm front provided strong forcing which resulted in flooding, wind damage, and 5 tornadoes. In the warm sector dewpoints surged into the mid 70s with PWATs near 2 inches which led to torrential downpours. Tornadoes occurred in Scotland, Ct, Scituate, RI, North Attleboro, MA, Stoughton, MA, and Weymouth, MA. The tornadoes ranged in intensity from EF-0 to EF-2. |
| Event Narrative | A tornado caused significant damage along a discontinuous path in Scituate, Johnston, and North Providence, Rhode Island. This is the strongest tornado to have struck Rhode Island since the F-2 tornado in Cranston and Providence on August 7, 1986. The tornado first touched down near Byron Randall Road in Scituate which is where the most severe damage occurred. There were hundreds of large trees either uprooted or snapped at their bases. One home sustained damage to its roof, the top of its chimney was blown off, windows were blown in, and an exterior door was dislodged from its framing. Damage was consistent with winds of around 115 mph which is classified as EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The tornado then tracked into Johnston where it crossed I-295 at Exit 10 and lifted a vehicle into the air before dropping it back onto the highway. The driver was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. From there, the tornado moved across Bridle Way and Carriage Way where a number of trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which fell onto homes or vehicles. Some homes also lost some singles from their roofs. A metal Stop sign pole was bent in half and the sign was blown away. The tornado then caused damage in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery where a number of large trees were either snapped or uprooted. The damage observed in Johnston was consistent with winds of 90 to 100 mph which is classified as EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Finally, the tornado crossed into North Providence. Similar to Johnston, a number of trees were either snapped or uprooted, some falling onto homes or vehicles. Most of the damage observed was to the north of Mineral Spring Avenue. One of the harder hit areas included Lydia Avenue, Armand Drive, and Bennett Street where two homes were made uninhabitable from fallen trees. The damage observed in North Providence was consistent with winds of 90 to 100 mph which is classified as EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The National Weather Service would like to thank the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, the Scituate Police Department, the Johnston Police Department, the North Providence Fire Department, and Skywarn Amateur Radio Operators for their assistance with the damage survey. |
Event Map:
Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 1 | 271.30K | 0.00K | |||||||
| COVENTRY ARPT | KENT CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 07:34 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.50K | 0.00K |
| WEST GREENWICH | KENT CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 07:39 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.50K | 0.00K |
| SAUNDERSVILLE | PROVIDENCE CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 07:40 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| SOUTH PROVIDENCE | PROVIDENCE CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 07:40 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 3.00K | 0.00K |
| WATERMAN FOUR CORNER | PROVIDENCE CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 07:40 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| WATERMAN FOUR CORNER | PROVIDENCE CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 07:40 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 1 | 250.00K | 0.00K |
| HUGHESDALE | PROVIDENCE CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 07:45 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 1.00K | 0.00K |
| PRIMROSE | PROVIDENCE CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 07:50 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.30K | 0.00K |
| NORTH PROVIDENCE | PROVIDENCE CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 08:05 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 1.00K | 0.00K |
| NORTH PROVIDENCE | PROVIDENCE CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 08:08 | EST-5 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| EAST GREENWICH | KENT CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 08:20 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| WARWICK | KENT CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 09:06 | EST-5 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| BRISTOL | BRISTOL CO. | RI | 08/18/2023 | 09:09 | EST-5 | Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| Totals: | 0 | 1 | 271.30K | 0.00K |
