August 10 – A first for Block Island
Severe weather and tornadoes are certainly not unheard of events in the summer in Southern New England, but, Block Island is normally not associated with the strongest storms because of its proximity to the ocean which can be a limiting factor on severe weather development. On August 10, however, a line of strong storms moved from CT and Long Island to RI and SE MA, and a confirmed tornado touched down on Block Island. It was the first confirmed tornado in the history of Block Island. It was also the first live broadcast on rightweather.net, and we were closely monitoring the rotation of that storm as it crossed Block Island Sound heading for Narragansett. Here is the NWS report on the storm:
...SUMMARY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON MA HAS CONFIRMED A TORNADO ON BLOCK ISLAND IN WASHINGTON COUNTY RHODE ISLAND FROM BACK ON AUGUST 10 2012. NOTABLY...THIS IS THE FIRST RECORDED TOUCHDOWN OF A TORNADO ON THE RECORD BOOKS FOR BLOCK ISLAND. A TORNADIC WATERSPOUT OVER THE WATERS SOUTH OF BLOCK ISLAND MOVED NORTHWARD ONTO LAND AS A TORNADO OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE ISLAND AROUND 354 PM. ON LAKESIDE DRIVE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF FELLED TREES. DECK FURNITURE WAS THROWN 100 YARDS AWAY. SCREENS WERE BLOWN OFF A HOUSE. DAMAGE TO AN ANEMOMETER OCCURRED AT A HOME ON SAND`S POND ROAD. THERE WAS ALSO A REPORT OF 50 TREES BLOWN DOWN ON A FARM.
September 5 – Fall River under water
The remnants of Hurricane Isaac moved through Southern New England on September 5 bringing torrential rain and flash flooding to Bristol County MA and RI. The hardest hit city was Fall River, where many areas were inundated after 4-5″ of rain fell in the morning, leading to severe flooding by noon. Cars were submerged and people had to be rescued from the rising water.
