Providence Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Providence, RI

Data current as of 2026-10-16 · Sourced from NOAA Storm Events

Over the past five years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded 19 hail storms within 25 miles of Providence, RI. Of those, 14 produced hail at least quarter-size — the threshold most insurance carriers consider potentially damaging to asphalt shingles. The largest reported hail in this window was ping pong ball-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2024 was the most active year on record locally, with 8 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Providence

Hail Severity Breakdown — Providence Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Severe3 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant11 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate3 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage
Minor2 eventsPea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles

Providence Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
20264 events
20253 events
20248 events
20234 events

2024 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Providence, with 8 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Providence typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.

Notable Recent Providence Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Providence

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-03-04 1 E Killingly, CT Moderate 0.70" —
2026-03-04 North Smithfield, RI Minor 0.10" Reported by Trained Spotter.
2026-03-04 1 SE North Providence, RI Minor 0.10" —
2026-03-03 Glocester, RI Significant 1.00" Reported by Trained Spotter.
2025-07-03 KILLINGLY CENTER, CT Significant 1.00" In Killingly, quarter sized hail fell.
2025-07-03 SOUTH KILLINGLY, CT Severe 1.75" In Sterling, golf ball sized hail was reported which destroyed a gazebo.
2025-07-03 FOSTER CENTER, RI Significant 1.00" In Foster Rhode Island, quarter sized hail fell.
2024-08-26 WEST BARRINGTON, RI Significant 1.00" In Barrington, 1 inch hail fell.
2024-08-26 APPONAUG, RI Significant 1.00" In Warwick, quarter sized hail fell.
2024-08-15 RAYNHAM CENTER, MA Significant 1.25" In Raynham, 1.25 inch hail was reported.
2024-08-15 RAYNHAM, MA Significant 1.00" In Raynham, quarter sized hail was reported.
2024-05-08 RIVER PT, RI Significant 1.25" In West Warwick 1.25 inch hail was reported.
2024-05-08 PORTSMOUTH, RI Significant 1.00" In Portsmouth quarter sized hail was reported.
2024-05-08 BERRYMAN CORNER, MA Significant 1.00" In Westport quarter sized hail was reported.
2024-05-08 SAUNDERSTOWN, RI Severe 1.50" In Narragansett 2 inch hail was reported, as was 1.75 inch hail. In Jamestown 1.5 inch hail was reported.
2023-06-06 REHOBOTH, MA Significant 1.00" In Rehoboth at 439 PM EDT (339 PM EST), there was a social media photo of hail that ranged from dime to quarter size. The report time was radar-estimated.
2023-06-02 FOSTER, RI Moderate 0.75" In Foster, there were several reports of dime size hail.
2023-06-02 KILLINGLY CENTER, CT Severe 1.75" At 4 PM EDT (3 PM EST), the public reported quarter size hail in East Killingly. Report relayed by the media. At 403 PM EDT, an amateur radio spotter relayed photos of golf ball size hail from East Killingly.
2023-06-02 WEST MEDWAY, MA Moderate 0.75" At 457 PM EDT (357 PM EST), a relative of a NWS employee, on Brandywine Rd. in Medway, MA, reported 0.75 inch diameter hail.

Wind Storm History — Providence Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 123 high-wind events within 25 miles of Providence, RI in the past five years. Of those, 123 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 100 mph.

SeverityCount
Destructive1 event
Severe4 events
Significant118 events

Recent Wind Events Near Providence

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-05-19 EAST KILLINGLY, CT 58 Significant In Killingly, there was a tree and wires down on Valley rd.
2026-05-19 ROCKVILLE, MA 58 Significant In Norfolk, wires were down on Cleveland St.
2025-09-06 EAST WALPOLE, MA 58 Significant In Sharon, a large tree was down across a driveway.
2025-08-29 OAK LAWN, RI 58 Significant In Cranston, a tree and wires were down.
2025-08-14 WALPOLE, MA 58 Significant In Walpole, a tree and wires were down on South St.
2025-07-25 PAWTUCKET, RI 58 Significant In Pawtucket, a tree was down on a house.
2025-07-25 JOHNSTON, RI 58 Significant In Providence, a tree was down on Wallace St.
2025-07-25 RAYNHAM CENTER, MA 58 Significant In Raynham, wires were down on Goldfinch Dr.
2025-07-25 HARBOR JCT, RI 58 Significant In Providence, a tree was down on Prairie Ave.
2025-07-25 ESMOND, RI 58 Significant In North Providence, a tree was down on wires on Randall Rd.
2025-07-25 WADES CORNER, MA 58 Significant In Dighton, a tree and wires were down on Regional Rd.
2025-07-25 RAYNHAM CENTER, MA 58 Significant In Raynham, a large tree was down on King St. In Raynham, a large tree was down on King St.
2025-07-25 WRENTHAM, MA 63 Significant In Wrentham, a mesonet station gusted to 63 mph.
2025-07-08 HARRISVILLE, RI 58 Significant In Burrillville, a tree was down blocking the westbound lane of East Ave.
2025-07-08 DAYVILLE, CT 58 Significant In Killingly, the northbound side of I-395 between mile marker 37 and 38 had a large tree blocking the right lane.
2025-07-08 TASSELTOP, MA 58 Significant In Douglas, a large tree was down on Perry St.
2025-07-08 WHITINSVILLE, MA 58 Significant In Northbridge, a tree was down on wires on Purgatory Rd.
2025-07-03 KILLINGLY CENTER, CT 58 Significant In Killingly, trees were down in town.
2025-07-03 WEST BARRINGTON, RI 58 Significant In Barrington, a tree was down on a vehicle on County Rd.
2025-07-03 GREENWOOD, RI 64 Severe The Asos at TF Green Airport (KPVD) gusted to 64 mph.

Frequently Asked Questions About Providence Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Providence, RI?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Providence was on March 3, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.

How often does it hail in Providence?

Providence averages roughly 4 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 14 of the 19 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Providence?

The largest documented hail near Providence in the last five years was ping pong ball-sized. Most Providence-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.

Does my insurance cover hail damage in RI?

Most homeowners insurance policies in RI cover hail damage to roofs, siding, and gutters under the dwelling and other-structures coverage. Coverage typically requires the damage to be tied to a verifiable storm date — which is where the NOAA hail history above (and a HAAG-style test square validation) becomes important for the claim file.

How do I check hail history for a specific Providence address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Providence. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.

What a HAAG-Style Test Square Validation Means in Providence

If your property in or near Providence took on hail during one of the storms above, the standard process for documenting damage is a 10×10 foot test square inspection. A HAAG-trained reviewer counts impact indicators — granule displacement, mat fractures, and bruising — within the marked square and produces a PASS or FAIL document for the claim file.

HailCheck offers a $99 photo-based HAAG-style test square validation. You submit photos from the field, our reviewer evaluates the impact indicators and cross-references the NOAA storm dates listed above, and a written PASS/FAIL determination is returned within one business day. We do not send anyone to the roof — the validation is built around the photos you submit.

Learn About $99 HAAG-Style Validation

Why Providence's Location Matters for Hail

Providence sits east of the traditional hail alley, where hail events are less frequent than the central plains but tend to be associated with strong squall lines and tropical systems. Local roof systems are less commonly hardened for hail, which can mean even moderate impacts produce claim-worthy damage.

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