Power Outage in Westerly, RI

At approximately 518 PM EST, a tornado touched down just southwest of Dillon Avenue in North Kingstown. Several large, healthy hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped, while a few standing trees were sheared at their tops. The tornado then crossed over Route 102 onto Himes Street. In addition to numerous downed hardwood trees on Himes Street, approximately four to five power poles were snapped in half and a fallen tree caused window and roof damage to a home. The tornado then continued to track northeast toward Juniper Drive, where large branches (diameter approximately 15 inches) were downed across the neighborhood. Smaller downed branches were also visible along Route 1 as the tornado moved northeast. At approximately 524 PM EST, the tornado lifted over Hopedale Avenue in Wickford. The EF0 rating, with maximum estimated wind speeds of 80 mph, was based on several uprooted or snapped hardwood trees and minor shearing of tree tops on a few standing trees. No major structural damage was observed, aside from the building on Himes Street, which was caused by a downed tree.

Note... this is a continuation of a tornado that began in Stonington, CT (New London County). At approximately 4:54 PM EST on Saturday, November 13, a tornado touched down on Robinson Street in the Pawcatuck neighborhood of Stonington, CT. Several hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped about half way up the trunk. A gutter was ripped off of one home and shutters were ripped off of another home. Several trampolines were lifted, with one becoming stuck on a power line, approximately 20 feet in the air. In Stonington, where Robinson Street becomes Race Street, a metal shed was lifted and flipped before being crushed by a large maple branch, with an approximate diameter of 15 inches. Several street signs also were snapped at their bases. The tornado then continued on a northeast track into Westerly, RI, where it crossed Route 78 onto Center Street. Approximately 20 large, healthy hardwood trees were uprooted at that location. A wood outbuilding also was flipped onto its side. The tornado then crossed onto Millview Drive before lifting at approximately 5:00 PM EST. The basis for the EF1 rating was the metal shed that was flipped prior to being crushed, as well as the shearing of gutters and shutters off of homes. The maximum estimated wind associated with this tornado was 90 mph. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 0.25 miles in CT and 1.10 miles in RI.

Note... this is a continuation of a tornado that began in Stonington, CT (New London County). At approximately 4:54 PM EST on Saturday, November 13, a tornado touched down on Robinson Street in the Pawcatuck neighborhood of Stonington, CT. Several hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped about half way up the trunk. A gutter was ripped off of one home and shutters were ripped off of another home. Several trampolines were lifted, with one becoming stuck on a power line, approximately 20 feet in the air. In Stonington, where Robinson Street becomes Race Street, a metal shed was lifted and flipped before being crushed by a large maple branch, with an approximate diameter of 15 inches. Several street signs also were snapped at their bases. The tornado then continued on a northeast track into Westerly, RI, where it crossed Route 78 onto Center Street. Approximately 20 large, healthy hardwood trees were uprooted at that location. A wood outbuilding also was flipped onto its side. The tornado then crossed onto Millview Drive before lifting at approximately 5:00 PM EST. The basis for the EF1 rating was the metal shed that was flipped prior to being crushed, as well as the shearing of gutters and shutters off of homes. The maximum estimated wind associated with this tornado was 90 mph. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 0.25 miles in CT and 1.10 miles in RI.

A Weatherflow mesonet station at the University of Rhode Island in North Kingstown recorded a wind gust to 60 mph at 119 PM EST. In Richmond at 141 PM EST, a tree was down on power lines on Job Drive.

Wind speeds generally were gusting to 60 to 70 mph in Washington County. There was significant damage and widespread power outages. According to the RI Emergency Management Agency, there were approximately 60 homes damaged in Newport County, 33 homes in Washington County, and around 20 homes damaged in Bristol County. In North Kingstown between 648 and 709 AM EST, a tree fell on a car on Sweet Lane, a tree was down on power lines on Church Street, and a large oak tree was down on an unspecified road...with additional trees falling through the morning. Also in North Kingstown at 801 AM EST, Wickford Cove was closed due to flooding. In South Kingstown at 742 AM EST, a tree fell through the roof of a home on Overhill Road. At 1034 AM EST, a Weatherflow mesonet station at the University of Rhode Island, located in the Kingston section of South Kingstown, recorded a gust to 69 mph. Exeter had a lot of damage, with the first report coming in at 746 AM EST, with a tree down on wires on Falcon Drive. By 2 PM EST, the Exeter Police Department characterized the town as having major damage, with numerous trees and power poles down throughout Exeter. In Narragansett at 814 AM EST, a tree was down on Riverdell Drive. Wind gusts at a mesonet station at Point Judith reached 59 mph at 857 AM EST, then reached a maximum of 70 mph at 957 AM EST. At 1044 AM EST, Narragansett Police reported that the combination of coastal flooding and rainfall closed Ocean Rd. from Narragansett Ave. to South Pier Rd., Beach St., and ocean access points at Pilgrim Ave. and Conant Ave. Numerous trees and wires were down throughout the town. A power pole was snapped at Caswell and Central Streets. Another pole was down on Saltaire Ave. and there was a transformer fire on Ocean Spray Ave. In Westerly between 9 and 1030 AM EST, numerous trees were down across town and Atlantic Avenue was impassable up to 1st Street due to flooding from a combination of heavy rainfall and storm surge. Also in Westerly at 1025 AM, there was two feet of water on Main Street. In Charlestown at Ninigret Pond, a Weatherflow mesonet station recorded a gust to 58 mph at 949 AM EST and at 12 PM EST, a tree was down on a house on Alton Bradford Rd. In Hopkinton, the Emergency Management Director reported numerous trees and wires down throughout town...specific locations included Howard St., Crowthers Place, Woodville Rd., Collins Rd., and Woodville Alton Rd. On Elm St. in Hopkinton, there was a transformer explosion with a fire.

In Westerly, RI at 355 PM EDT, the ASOS at Westerly (KWST) recorded a gust to 51 mph (44 kt). In North Kingstown at 425 PM EDT, the AWOS Station at Quonset Airport (KOQU) recorded a wind gust to 61 mph. At 419 PM EDT, a mesonet site at Point Judith recorded a wind gust to 56 mph (49 kt). Although there were no damage reports from Washington County, it is likely that there was some widely scattered tree or power line damage.

An amateur radio station at Charlestown reported a wind gust of 61 mph. A tree was down on power lines on Skunk Hill Road and wires were reported down on High Street in Hopkinton. Wires were down on Weekapaug Road in Westerly.

Snowfall totals of 6 to 12 inches were observed in Washington County, with the lower totals along the south coast. High winds combined with the snow, producing damage in South Kingstown. A large pine tree took down power lines at the intersection of Route 108 and Saugatucket Road cutting off electricity to the police station. This occurred at approximately 2:30am Monday.

Five to ten inches of rain fell across Washington County, resulting in rises on the Pawcatuck River at Westerly and at Wood River Junction. The Pawcatuck River set a record of nearly fifteen and a half feet at Westerly and just over eleven feet at Wood River Junction. ||The Pawcatuck River overflowed its banks in Charlestown, closing Route 91 and Shannock Road. Numerous basements were flooded in South Kingstown, Narragansett, and Charlestown. Numerous roads were flooded in Exeter, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Narragansett, South Kingstown, and North Kingstown, including the intersection of Route 2 and Mail Road and washing away a portion of Route 102 in Exeter. A section of the Blue Pond Dam in Hopkinton washed away, flooding the area and washing out a portion of Route 3. Water flowed so ferociously through the Saugatucket River near the Palisades Mill complex in South Kingstown that windows were broken out of the mill and water flowed into the building, resulting in substantial damage. Lower levels of an office building in the Peace Dale section of South Kingstown were flooded.||Sixteen homes on Summit Road in Exeter were isolated after a portion of the road washed out. Several drivers in Narragansett and Exeter had to be rescued from their cars after they drove into water three to four feet deep. One family in the Peace Dale section of South Kingstown had to be rescued by boat from their home. Four to six homes in the Green Hill section had to be evacuated as well.||A bridge on Route 138 spanning the Chipuxet River in South Kingstown partially collapsed closing Route 138 between Route 2 and Ministerial Road. A second bridge on Route 138 spanning the Usquepaug River in Richmond was closed nearly eight weeks after the flooding after an underwater inspection of the bridge revealed it was damaged by the flooding at the end of March. The bridge is between Routes 2 and 112. It reopened about one week after it was closed. A privately owned dam at Glen Rock Reservoir in West Kingston was partially breached, however, the area downstream of the dam is wetlands so no structures were affected. ||Damage to structures at the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown amounted to $1.85 million. The basements of all 22 buildings on campus flooded as well as classrooms and offices. Other facilities at the school were closed because of flooding damage to equipment. In addition, Route 138 was flooded cutting off access to the University of Rhode Island from Interstate 95.||A mudslide washed onto two of the three rail tracks (one passenger, one freight) that run through North Kingstown near Routes 403 and 4, disrupting rail service through Rhode Island. A few residents in the area were asked to evacuate.||Chapman Pond and Newton's Marsh flooded and along with flooding from the Pawcatuck River cut off an entire neighborhood from goods and services for at least a week. Residents were encouraged to evacuate after electricity was cut off for safety reasons for nearly a week. However, 20 of the 36 families stayed in their homes to protect them from the rising water. Nearly 10,000 residents of Westerly were impacted by the flooding and power outages that occurred, some of them have not been allowed back in their homes over a month later. The Broad Street Bridge was closed for safety reasons, blocking the main route in and out of Westerly from Connecticut. Several portions of Route 91, a main east-west artery, were flooded and closed. This wreaked havoc with bus schedules and daily commutes. Pawcatuck River flooding in Westerly left some homes flooded up to their roof lines.||Basements, yards, and fields flooded on Block Island. Oil contamination from a home whose foundation collapsed and spilled heating oil, resulted in the temporary closure of shellfishing from HogPen Channel to Trim's Pond and Harbor Pond. Georgian Swamp off Corn Neck Road flooded a private lane cutting off access to two homes.||A single, indirect injury occurred when an unidentified man cut his foot while walking through his flooded basement barefoot.||Damage amounts can be found in the March Storm Data when most of the damage occurred. Rivers and small streams remained in flood well into April.

Five to ten inches of rain fell across Washington County, resulting in rises on the Pawcatuck River at Westerly and at Wood River Junction. The Pawcatuck River set a record of nearly fifteen and a half feet at Westerly and just over eleven feet at Wood River Junction. ||The Pawcatuck River overflowed its banks in Charlestown, closing Route 91 and Shannock Road. Numerous basements were flooded in South Kingstown, Narragansett, and Charlestown. Numerous roads were flooded in Exeter, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Narragansett, South Kingstown, and North Kingstown, including the intersection of Route 2 and Mail Road and washing away a portion of Route 102 in Exeter. A section of the Blue Pond Dam in Hopkinton washed away, flooding the area and washing out a portion of Route 3. Water flowed so ferociously through the Saugatucket River near the Palisades Mill complex in South Kingstown that windows were broken out of the mill and water flowed into the building, resulting in substantial damage. Lower levels of an office building in the Peace Dale section of South Kingstown were flooded.||Sixteen homes on Summit Road in Exeter were isolated after a portion of the road washed out. Several drivers in Narragansett and Exeter had to be rescued from their cars after they drove into water three to four feet deep. One family in the Peace Dale section of South Kingstown had to be rescued by boat from their home. Four to six homes in the Green Hill section had to be evacuated as well.||A bridge on Route 138 spanning the Chipuxet River in South Kingstown partially collapsed closing Route 138 between Route 2 and Ministerial Road. A second bridge on Route 138 spanning the Usquepaug River in Richmond was closed nearly eight weeks after the flooding after an underwater inspection of the bridge revealed it was damaged by the flooding at the end of March. The bridge is between Routes 2 and 112. It reopened about one week after it was closed. A privately owned dam at Glen Rock Reservoir in West Kingston was partially breached, however, the area downstream of the dam is wetlands so no structures were affected. ||Damage to structures at the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown amounted to $1.85 million. The basements of all 22 buildings on campus flooded as well as classrooms and offices. Other facilities at the school were closed because of flooding damage to equipment. In addition, Route 138 was flooded cutting off access to the University of Rhode Island from Interstate 95.||A mudslide washed onto two of the three rail tracks (one passenger, one freight) that run through North Kingstown near Routes 403 and 4, disrupting rail service through Rhode Island. A few residents in the area were asked to evacuate.||Chapman Pond and Newton's Marsh flooded and along with flooding from the Pawcatuck River cut off an entire neighborhood from goods and services for at least a week. Residents were encouraged to evacuate after electricity was cut off for safety reasons for nearly a week. However, 20 of the 36 families stayed in their homes to protect them from the rising water. Nearly 10,000 residents of Westerly were impacted by the flooding and power outages that occurred, some of them have not been allowed back in their homes over a month later. The Broad Street Bridge was closed for safety reasons, blocking the main route in and out of Westerly from Connecticut. Several portions of Route 91, a main east-west artery, were flooded and closed. This wreaked havoc with bus schedules and daily commutes. Pawcatuck River flooding in Westerly left some homes flooded up to their roof lines.||Basements, yards, and fields flooded on Block Island. Oil contamination from a home whose foundation collapsed and spilled heating oil, resulted in the temporary closure of shellfishing from HogPen Channel to Trim's Pond and Harbor Pond. Georgian Swamp off Corn Neck Road flooded a private lane cutting off access to two homes.||A single, indirect injury occurred when an unidentified man cut his foot while walking through his flooded basement barefoot.||Damage amounts can be found in the March Storm Data when most of the damage occurred. Rivers and small streams remained in flood well into April.

Five to ten inches of rain fell across Washington County, resulting in rises on the Pawcatuck River at Westerly and at Wood River Junction. The Pawcatuck River set a record of nearly fifteen and a half feet at Westerly and just over eleven feet at Wood River Junction. ||The Pawcatuck River overflowed its banks in Charlestown, closing Route 91 and Shannock Road. Numerous basements were flooded in South Kingstown, Narragansett, and Charlestown. Numerous roads were flooded in Exeter, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Narragansett, South Kingstown, and North Kingstown, including the intersection of Route 2 and Mail Road and washing away a portion of Route 102 in Exeter. A section of the Blue Pond Dam in Hopkinton washed away, flooding the area and washing out a portion of Route 3. Water flowed so ferociously through the Saugatucket River near the Palisades Mill complex in South Kingstown that windows were broken out of the mill and water flowed into the building, resulting in substantial damage. Lower levels of an office building in the Peace Dale section of South Kingstown were flooded.||Sixteen homes on Summit Road in Exeter were isolated after a portion of the road washed out. Several drivers in Narragansett and Exeter had to be rescued from their cars after they drove into water three to four feet deep. One family in the Peace Dale section of South Kingstown had to be rescued by boat from their home. Four to six homes in the Green Hill section had to be evacuated as well.||A bridge on Route 138 spanning the Chipuxet River in South Kingstown partially collapsed closing Route 138 between Route 2 and Ministerial Road. A second bridge on Route 138 spanning the Usquepaug River in Richmond was closed nearly eight weeks after the flooding after an underwater inspection of the bridge revealed it was damaged by the flooding at the end of March. The bridge is between Routes 2 and 112. It reopened about one week after it was closed. A privately owned dam at Glen Rock Reservoir in West Kingston was partially breached, however, the area downstream of the dam is wetlands so no structures were affected. ||Damage to structures at the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown amounted to $1.85 million. The basements of all 22 buildings on campus flooded as well as classrooms and offices. Other facilities at the school were closed because of flooding damage to equipment. In addition, Route 138 was flooded cutting off access to the University of Rhode Island from Interstate 95.||A mudslide washed onto two of the three rail tracks (one passenger, one freight) that run through North Kingstown near Routes 403 and 4, disrupting rail service through Rhode Island. A few residents in the area were asked to evacuate.||Chapman Pond and Newton's Marsh flooded and along with flooding from the Pawcatuck River cut off an entire neighborhood from goods and services for at least a week. Residents were encouraged to evacuate after electricity was cut off for safety reasons for nearly a week. However, 20 of the 36 families stayed in their homes to protect them from the rising water. Nearly 10,000 residents of Westerly were impacted by the flooding and power outages that occurred, some of them have not been allowed back in their homes over a month later. The Broad Street Bridge was closed for safety reasons, blocking the main route in and out of Westerly from Connecticut. Several portions of Route 91, a main east-west artery, were flooded and closed. This wreaked havoc with bus schedules and daily commutes. Pawcatuck River flooding in Westerly left some homes flooded up to their roof lines.||Basements, yards, and fields flooded on Block Island. Oil contamination from a home whose foundation collapsed and spilled heating oil, resulted in the temporary closure of shellfishing from HogPen Channel to Trim's Pond and Harbor Pond. Georgian Swamp off Corn Neck Road flooded a private lane cutting off access to two homes.||A single, indirect injury occurred when an unidentified man cut his foot while walking through his flooded basement barefoot.

Five to ten inches of rain fell across Washington County, resulting in rises on the Pawcatuck River at Westerly and at Wood River Junction. The Pawcatuck River set a record of nearly fifteen and a half feet at Westerly and just over eleven feet at Wood River Junction. ||The Pawcatuck River overflowed its banks in Charlestown, closing Route 91 and Shannock Road. Numerous basements were flooded in South Kingstown, Narragansett, and Charlestown. Numerous roads were flooded in Exeter, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Narragansett, South Kingstown, and North Kingstown, including the intersection of Route 2 and Mail Road and washing away a portion of Route 102 in Exeter. A section of the Blue Pond Dam in Hopkinton washed away, flooding the area and washing out a portion of Route 3. Water flowed so ferociously through the Saugatucket River near the Palisades Mill complex in South Kingstown that windows were broken out of the mill and water flowed into the building, resulting in substantial damage. Lower levels of an office building in the Peace Dale section of South Kingstown were flooded.||Sixteen homes on Summit Road in Exeter were isolated after a portion of the road washed out. Several drivers in Narragansett and Exeter had to be rescued from their cars after they drove into water three to four feet deep. One family in the Peace Dale section of South Kingstown had to be rescued by boat from their home. Four to six homes in the Green Hill section had to be evacuated as well.||A bridge on Route 138 spanning the Chipuxet River in South Kingstown partially collapsed closing Route 138 between Route 2 and Ministerial Road. A second bridge on Route 138 spanning the Usquepaug River in Richmond was closed nearly eight weeks after the flooding after an underwater inspection of the bridge revealed it was damaged by the flooding at the end of March. The bridge is between Routes 2 and 112. It reopened about one week after it was closed. A privately owned dam at Glen Rock Reservoir in West Kingston was partially breached, however, the area downstream of the dam is wetlands so no structures were affected. ||Damage to structures at the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown amounted to $1.85 million. The basements of all 22 buildings on campus flooded as well as classrooms and offices. Other facilities at the school were closed because of flooding damage to equipment. In addition, Route 138 was flooded cutting off access to the University of Rhode Island from Interstate 95.||A mudslide washed onto two of the three rail tracks (one passenger, one freight) that run through North Kingstown near Routes 403 and 4, disrupting rail service through Rhode Island. A few residents in the area were asked to evacuate.||Chapman Pond and Newton's Marsh flooded and along with flooding from the Pawcatuck River cut off an entire neighborhood from goods and services for at least a week. Residents were encouraged to evacuate after electricity was cut off for safety reasons for nearly a week. However, 20 of the 36 families stayed in their homes to protect them from the rising water. Nearly 10,000 residents of Westerly were impacted by the flooding and power outages that occurred, some of them have not been allowed back in their homes over a month later. The Broad Street Bridge was closed for safety reasons, blocking the main route in and out of Westerly from Connecticut. Several portions of Route 91, a main east-west artery, were flooded and closed. This wreaked havoc with bus schedules and daily commutes. Pawcatuck River flooding in Westerly left some homes flooded up to their roof lines.||Basements, yards, and fields flooded on Block Island. Oil contamination from a home whose foundation collapsed and spilled heating oil, resulted in the temporary closure of shellfishing from HogPen Channel to Trim's Pond and Harbor Pond. Georgian Swamp off Corn Neck Road flooded a private lane cutting off access to two homes.||A single, indirect injury occurred when an unidentified man cut his foot while walking through his flooded basement barefoot.

A telephone pole and wires were downed and the door of a backyard shed was torn off in Charlestown. Numerous trees were downed in Exeter and South Kingstown, one of these trees blocked Post Road, east of Minesterial for several hours. In Westerly, trees and a utility pole were downed. Downed power lines trapped a Narragansett fire engine on Knowlesway Extension. The engine had to be abandoned for about an hour until the lines could be secured. Five utility poles were downed in Narragansett.

Trees and power lines were brought down in North and South Kingstown.

A line of heavy showers moved through in the evening hours, accompanied by a modest southerly low-level jet. Intensifying surface low pressure near the south coast of New England enhanced low level convergence. These gusty showers knocked down some trees and power lines.

A strong low pressure system moved through the Great Lakes bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds to southern New England. A strong low level jet combined with the heavy rain to result in intermittently strong winds mixing to the surface. These winds resulted in scattered tree and power line damage across southern New England.

A cold front moved across Southern New England resulting in strong, gusty winds. Trees, branches, and wires were downed by the winds resulting in power outages in some areas.

A powerful cold front with a sharp temperature gradient moved across Rhode Island during the late morning and early afternoon hours of 29 September 2005. This cold front produced high winds that caused power outages, and knocked down trees, limbs, power poles, and wires across the region. Wind gusts between 40 and 60 mph were common during this event.In Smithfield, high winds knocked large trees and wires down on St. Paul Street. A large pine tree was reported down in Burrillville. High wind gusts knocked a large tree down across a road in Exeter. No known injuries directly resulted from this high wind event.