Providence, Rhode Island's History with Tropical Systems

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871)

Providence most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 7th and September 13th

Years within or near core

1872bdts
1874tsbd
1877bdxtropstbr
1878xtropstbdbr
1879
1880xtropstbr
1888bdts
1888ts
1893bdtsbr
1894ts
1896br
1897ts
1899xtropstbdbr
1902xtropst
1904
1908ts
1913xtoprstbr
1916xtropst
1916br
1923ts
1934bdxtropstbr
1934ts
1936br
1938
1944
1954m
1954br
1960ts
1960
1961m
1961ts
1971ts
1972tsbr
1976tsbr
1985br
1991
1996ts
1999ts
2004bdts
2007xtropst
2008tsbd
2011ts
2013bdxtropst
2017tsbr
2019subtsbr
2020bdtsbr
2021xts
2021ts

48 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (B and C storms most likely to impact the area)

Carol
Edna
Brenda
Connie
Donna
Esther
Doria
Carrie
Belle
Gloria
Bob
Fran
Floyd
Charley
Barry
Hanna
Irene
Andrea
Jose
Melissa
Isaias
Elsa
Henri

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 35, 72.92%
H = 13, 27.08%

only 4.65% of all tropical systems affecting Providence are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

10 years 1924-1933

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 3.19 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (hurricane force wind gusts for a few hours)

Once every 19.13 years. (8 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 76.5 years. (2 hits)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

98 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

due in 2025

Last affected by

2021 August 22nd Tropical Storm Henri passes just west by 30 miles with 50 mph winds while moving north-northwest.

This area's hurricane history

1879 August 19th, 80 mph hurricane hits just south from the southwest area has a complete lull pressure 29.05.
1904 September 15th, extratropical hurricane hits from the southwest with 85 mph winds
1938 85 mph September 22nd, 60 miles to the west 600 killed near this areas as they had gusts over 130 mph pressure 27.94.Very high storm surge up to 30 ft, 16 ft reported in Providence. System was moving at a forward speed of 38 mph when it hit. Newspaper article #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | Maximum wind map | Monument | Surge animation | Video | Surge info
1944 September 15th, 110 mph (HURDAT) from the south-southwest causes 11 inches of rain here.
1954 Carol August 31st 115mph (HURDAT) just west while moving north-northeast with gusts to 130 mph pressure 28.75 heavy damage from storm surge. 200 homes destryed in Newport to the south & 60 killed. A storm tide of 14.8ft was observed. After this hurricane a wall was built to protect from storm surges. Newspaper article | Newspaper Headline | Newspaper Headline #2 | Dowtown providence flooding | Damage shot from Newport | Damage shot from Conimicut point | Maximum wind map
1960 Hurricane Donna September 12th passes by here just west with 95 mph winds rapidly from the south-southwest pressure 28.55 moderate damage. Reports of 81 mph from the south here | More here
1961 September 21st, Hurricane Esther loops just south of here with 120 mph winds from the south-southwest. NHC Wallet
1991 August 19th Hurricane Bob passes just southeast with 95 mph winds while moving north-northeast. NHC Wallet

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......