Providence County, Rhode Island Hurricane History
Since 1851, 28 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Providence County, Rhode Island — about one every 6.2 years. Of those, 6 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 17 miles away on 9 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 17 mi away, 9 July 2021
- Strongest stormCarol (1954) — 100 kt (115 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1908) — 7.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Carol (1954) — 11.6 miles
- Passes within 25 miles15 of 28
- Peak monthSeptember — 12 storms (43% of all)
- Most active year1861 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1990s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1851–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 9 Jul 2021 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Hermine (2004) | 31 Aug 2004 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Floyd (1999) | 17 Sep 1999 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bertha (1996) | 14 Jul 1996 | 22.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 19 Aug 1994 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Bob (1991) | 19 Aug 1991 | 25.1 mi | Cat 1 | 81 kt |
| Henri (1985) | 25 Sep 1985 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1961) | 15 Sep 1961 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 12 Sep 1960 | 16.9 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 30 Jul 1960 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 11 Jul 1959 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Carol (1954) | 31 Aug 1954 | 11.6 mi | Cat 2 | 93 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 15 Sep 1944 | 18.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 19 Oct 1923 | 39.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 21 Jul 1916 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 31 May 1908 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 24 Sep 1897 | 15.9 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 10 Sep 1896 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 10 Oct 1894 | 18.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 22 Aug 1888 | 11.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1876) | 19 Sep 1876 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 30 Sep 1874 | 38.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 27 Oct 1872 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 8 Sep 1869 | 18.4 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 3 Nov 1861 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1861) | 28 Sep 1861 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1858) | 16 Sep 1858 | 15.4 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 19 Oct 1851 | 9.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 17 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here. Showing the 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henri (2021) | Remnant low | 24 Aug 2021 | 7.6 mi | 20 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | Post-tropical | 8 Jun 2013 | 21.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | Post-tropical | 7 Sep 2008 | 6.6 mi | 45 kt |
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 4 Jun 2007 | 17.9 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 20 Sep 2000 | 19.8 mi | 26 kt |
| Chris (1988) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1988 | 34.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Alma (1966) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1966 | 46.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 9 Sep 1934 | 37.3 mi | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | Post-tropical | 15 Sep 1904 | 35.3 mi | 73 kt |
How Providence County, Rhode Island compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Providence County, Rhode Island ranks #571 — more exposed than 74.1% of them. Within Rhode Island it ranks #3 of 5, against a state average of 27.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Carol (1954) passed 12 miles away on 31 August 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1869) passed 18 miles away on 8 September 1869 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Bob (1991) passed 25 miles away on 19 August 1991 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1944) passed 19 miles away on 15 September 1944 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
28 of the 28 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 28 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 24 years, between 1961 and 1985. It has been 4 years since the last one; 14 of the 25 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Providence County, Rhode Island?
6 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Providence County, Rhode Island at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 28.
When was the last hurricane in Providence County, Rhode Island?
Bob (1991), on 19 August 1991, passing 25 miles away — 35 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Providence County, Rhode Island?
Carol (1954), which reached 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Providence County, Rhode Island?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.2 years — 28 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Providence County, Rhode Island borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Bristol County, Rhode Island has 29 on record.