Rhode Island sees strongest tornado in nearly 40 years as severe storms blast New England
A few strong to locally severe storms will be possible within the risk area, with a threat of locally damaging gusts and small to marginally severe hail.
Tornadoes reported as severe storms blast New England
Trees and power lines are downed after thunderstorms swept through the Northeast on Friday. However, a pleasant weekend is in store for many. August 18, 2023.
BOSTON – Tornadoes touched down in southeastern Massachusetts near Providence, Rhode Island on Friday, as multiple rounds of storms slammed the Northeast, with clusters of storms from northern New York to southern New England.
According to the National Weather Service, the tornadoes touched down in the towns of Weymouth, which is located just southeast of Boston, along with Attleboro and Mansfield near the Rhode Island border. A storm survey team will be dispatched to determine EF-ratings for the tornadoes.
![Storm damage could be seen Friday morning in Johnston, Rhode Island.]()
Image 1 of 6Storm damage could be seen Friday morning in Johnston, Rhode Island. (@Eddy46295688/X)
![Tony Santos captured storm damage Friday in Brockton, Massasschuttes.]()
Image 2 of 6Tony Santos captured storm damage Friday in Brockton, Massasschuttes. (Tony Santos/Facebook)
![Storm damage in North Providence, Rhode Island. August 18, 2023.]()
Image 3 of 6Storm damage in North Providence, Rhode Island. August 18, 2023. (What's going on in Rhode Island / WEATHER TRAKER / TMX)
![Storm damage in North Providence, Rhode Island. August 18, 2023.]()
Image 4 of 6Storm damage in North Providence, Rhode Island. August 18, 2023. (What's going on in Rhode Island / WEATHER TRAKER / TMX)
![Storm damage in North Providence, Rhode Island. August 18, 2023.]()
Image 5 of 6Storm damage in North Providence, Rhode Island. August 18, 2023. (What's going on in Rhode Island / WEATHER TRAKER / TMX)
![Storm damage in North Providence, Rhode Island. August 18, 2023.]()
Image 6 of 6Storm damage in North Providence, Rhode Island. August 18, 2023. (What's going on in Rhode Island / WEATHER TRAKER / TMX)
The NWS provided an overview of preliminary findings for a tornado that touched down in Rhode Island. They confirmed that an EF-2 tornado caused significant damage along a discontinuous path in Scituate, Johnston and North Providence. This is the strongest tornado to have struck Rhode Island since the F-2 tornado in Cranston and Providence on August 7, 1986.
During the morning to early afternoon rounds, damaging wind gusts and a few Tornado Warnings were reported. Later Friday afternoon, an isolated threat was expected along a cold front.
According to storm chaser @tornadicwonder on X, the company formerly known as Twitter, he has never been genuinely scared until a storm that moved over Bayville, New York, early Friday morning.
"Whatever that was that just went over me was the first," he said.
TORNADOES HIT LARGE CITIES: THIS IS WHY
In Brockton, Massachusets, Tony Santos captured some damage after thunderstorms brought wind and lightning to the area.
A few strong to locally severe storms were possible within the area, with a threat of locally damaging gusts and small to marginally severe hail.
In the video below, a woman captured images of the heavy rainfall on the street.
Woman screams as thunderstorm lashes Rhode Island
A tornado-warned storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to Providence, Rhode Island, on Friday, August 18, 2023. (Courtesy: Suzanne Cochrane via Storyful)
Those living in and around the Boston area, along with southern Vermont and New Hampshire, have been placed within the Level 1 out of 5 severe risk zone by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.
(FOX Weather)