PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island could face a round of rough coastal weather in late September as a nor’easter strengthens off the East Coast.
The National Weather Service is tracking a slow-moving ocean storm that is expected to move toward Southern New England this weekend. Forecasters say the storm’s exact track is still uncertain, but dangerous conditions are possible along the Rhode Island coast.
Strong winds and rough seas possible
The storm could bring several days of windy and unsettled weather to Rhode Island.
The National Weather Service has issued a Gale Warning for Narragansett Bay beginning Friday morning and a Storm Watch from Friday through Saturday evening. Winds in Narragansett Bay could reach 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.
Conditions could become even rougher farther offshore. The National Weather Service says some coastal waters could see wind gusts of 35 to 55 knots and seas building to 15 to 20 feet or higher by the weekend.
Rhode Island’s beaches could also see large waves. The current forecast calls for surf reaching 12 to 14 feet Friday and 12 to 15 feet Saturday in the Newport area.
That could lead to dangerous conditions for anyone heading to the beach, fishing or boating.
The storm’s path is still changing
Forecasters are still working to determine how close the storm will track to Rhode Island.
A storm that stays farther offshore could limit some of the impacts on land. A track closer to the coast could mean stronger winds, heavier rain and greater coastal impacts.
For now, the National Weather Service is stressing that the forecast could change as the storm develops.
Rhode Island already saw a historic nor’easter in 2026
The potential storm is also notable because Rhode Island was hit by a historic blizzard earlier this year.
The Blizzard of 2026 struck the state on February 22 and 23 and produced more than a foot of snow in many communities. The storm ultimately set multiple snowfall records.
At Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, the storm produced 37.9 inches of snow. That broke Providence’s previous record for the greatest snowfall from a single storm, which had been 28.6 inches during the Blizzard of 1978.
The storm also produced 35.5 inches in one day, breaking Providence’s previous one-day snowfall record of 19 inches set during the Blizzard of 1996.
Snowfall reports from around Rhode Island showed just how widespread the storm was. The National Weather Service recorded 33.5 inches near Providence, 32.1 inches in Glocester, 31.3 inches in Central Falls and 30 inches in Providence.
Strong winds added to the severity of the February storm. The state also saw blizzard conditions in several locations.
This storm would be a very different kind of threat
Unlike the February blizzard, the upcoming system is arriving in September, so snow is not the concern.
Instead, Rhode Islanders should be watching for strong winds, heavy rain, high surf and dangerous marine conditions.
The biggest effects are expected along the coast and over the water. Anyone with plans to be on Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island Sound or the ocean should continue checking updated forecasts as the weekend approaches.
The National Weather Service is will provide more details as the storm’s track becomes clearer.
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