Rhode Island Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, and East Providence
Summary
Rhode Island experienced a deluge during July 2026, recording its 5th wettest such month on record as repeated heavy downpours triggered flash flood alerts across the state. While monthly average temperatures remained relatively near baseline, peak daytime heat was notable, contributing to the 8th warmest May-July maximum temperatures in 77 years of data. Warm, unsettled weather patterns are expected to persist into autumn.
This month in numbers
Monthly rainfall reached 169.67 mm, which is 85.3 mm above the 1961-1990 baseline and ranks as the 5th highest July rainfall total on record. The average temperature for the month settled at 22.22°C (+0.7°C anomaly), placing it 30th overall. However, afternoon warmth was more pronounced across the season, with May-July maximum temperatures averaging 24.89°C (+1.5°C anomaly), the 8th warmest such stretch on record.
What changed
The broader May-July period recorded an average temperature of 19.15°C (+1.3°C anomaly), making it the 11th warmest such stretch on record. Nationally, the United States averaged 1.5°C above baseline for the month, while global land temperatures registered their 3rd warmest July on record (+1.6°C anomaly). These local trends fit into Rhode Island's long-term warming trajectory, which shows an increase of 1.69°C compared to the 1961-1990 baseline.
What’s driving change?
Persistent atmospheric moisture was steered into the region by , fuelling heavy convective rainstorms across southern New England. In urban areas, local heat retention was amplified by the effect. On a global scale, a moderate El Niño remains active, with full live tracking available at ENSO. Regional tropical storm activity is tracked at Extreme Weather tracker. All of Rhode Island's 1 tropical cyclone this year happened in the past month.
Looking ahead
Seasonal forecasts indicate a strong likelihood of above-average temperatures continuing across the region through autumn, driven in part by a moderate El Niño that is forecast to intensify and peak at Very Strong with a 93% probability in the coming months.
Sources:
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USUnited States
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp), plus GPCC (Snow, water-equivalent). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Rhode Island
Köppen Dfa · ContinentalRhode Island has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa: Humid continental - hot summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 23.2°C, while January is the coldest at -0.4°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1297mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Rhode Island
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Heatwave Days – Rhode Island
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Rhode Island
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Monthly Temperature – Rhode Island
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Records – Rhode Island
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfb · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Rhode Island. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (9.4°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 24.1°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+2.9°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Rhode Island
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Statewide monthly temperature and precipitation (nClimDiv).
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Rhode Island changing?
Rhode Island is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa: Humid continental - hot summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 23.2°C, while January is the coldest at -0.4°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1297mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for Rhode Island come from?
Climate data for Rhode Island comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Rhode Island climate data cover?
The Rhode Island climate profile covers Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket and surrounding areas. Rhode Island climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Rhode Island climate update refreshed?
The Rhode Island climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Rhode Island climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Rhode Island climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.