NWS Boston - Providence Tornado of 1986

Providence Rhode Island Tornado

August 1986: Rhode Island experienced its only multi-tornado day in the history of the state. This event occurred between August 7th and 8th, 1986, as three tornadoes touched down in Rhode Island over a 24 hour period.

The outbreak began with a F1 tornado (wind speeds of 73-112 mph on the Fuijita scale) which touched down in Cumberland, Rhode Island. This storm travelled a half-mile towards the southeast and damaged trees and power lines. No one was injured and there were no fatalities.

About an hour later, a strong supercell thunderstorm moved through Providence County, Rhode Island. This supercell thunderstorm produced a F2 tornado (wind speeds of 113-157 mph) at around 4:15pm, which travelled four miles from Cranston to Providence on a northeast path. The storm lifted momentarily near Cranston and Bridgham Streets and touched back down on Broad Street in South Providence. The tornado dissipated near Orms Street in downtown Providence.

The damage from this tornado included a flipped truck, a house removed from its foundation, a manufacturing building losing its top floor, the YMCA badly damaged and 6,000 people losing power. There were 20 injuries due to the storm, mostly from flying debris. Fortunately there were no fatalities. For many people living in Rhode Island, this was their first tornado experience.

The next morning, at around 10:15 am, an F1 (wind speeds of 73-112 mph) tornado touched down in Burrillville, Rhode Island. The storm travelled on an east northeast path towards North Smithfield. This storm travelled for 6 miles and damaged several cars, buildings, and a trailer.

Before these three tornadoes, a tornado had not touched down in Rhode Island for over 12 years. Dozens of people were injured, but fortunately there were no fatalities. This tornado outbreak in Rhode Island caused $2.5 million in damages (1986 USD), which is equivalent to $5.4 million (2016 USD) today.

Damage
Images
References

Click on a photo to see a bigger picture.

A four-story, jewelry manufacturing building in Providence that had its top story blown off by the tornado. Photo in NOAA Archives courtesy of the Providence Journal.

A truck flipped by the 1986 Cranston/Providence tornado. Picture courtesy of T.J. Del Santo and WPRI-TV.

Fulford Manufacturing Building after the 1986 tornado hit it. Picture courtesy of T.J. Del Santo and WPRI-TV.

Click on a photo to see a bigger picture.