Rhode Island Power Outage Season
When outages happen most in Rhode Island, and what to expect.
July is historically Rhode Island's busiest month for recorded power outages, part of a summer season (June–August) that accounts for about 30% of all recorded outages statewide, averaging 3.1 hours per event. 1 of Rhode Island's 5 tracked counties currently carry a Reliability Grade of F.
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Rhode Island outages by month
Total recorded events and average duration per event, summed across every tracked county in Rhode Island.
Peak season insight
Rhode Island's outage season runs June–August, accounting for 30% of all recorded outages. July has the highest frequency.
Month-by-month data table
| Month | Events | Avg duration |
|---|---|---|
| January | 216 | 1.9 hrs |
| February | 248 | 4.1 hrs |
| March | 266 | 5.7 hrs |
| April | 214 | 2.2 hrs |
| May | 219 | 1.4 hrs |
| June | 334 | 1.5 hrs |
| July | 358 | 2.0 hrs |
| August | 325 | 4.2 hrs |
| September | 288 | 1.8 hrs |
| October | 324 | 5.9 hrs |
| November | 250 | 2.8 hrs |
| December | 293 | 2.8 hrs |
This month in Rhode Island
October has historically recorded 324 outage events across Rhode Island, above the state's typical monthly average. Outages that start in October have averaged 5.9 hours.
Main causes by season
Named storms behind Rhode Island's worst recorded outages, from the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Winter (December–February)
- Drought
Spring (March–May)
- High Wind
Summer (June–August)
- Hurricane Sandy
- Tropical Storm Isaias
- Tropical Storm Henri
Fall (September–November)
- Strong Wind
- Tropical Storm Phillipe
- High Wind
Rhode Island's worst outage events on record
The five largest outages in Rhode Island by duration and customers affected.
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2017 | 114 hrs | 67,995 (23%) | Tropical Storm Phillipe |
| Aug 4, 2020 | 79 hrs | 84,135 (29%) | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| Mar 2, 2018 | 80 hrs | 64,587 (22%) | Unnamed event |
| Oct 30, 2017 | 117 hrs | 35,199 (29%) | Tropical Storm Phillipe |
| Aug 22, 2021 | 68 hrs | 52,955 (72%) | Tropical Storm Henri |
Highest-risk counties in Rhode Island
Lowest reliability percentile among Rhode Island's tracked counties.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County | F | 15th |
| Bristol County | D | 34th |
| Kent County | D | 38th |
| Providence County | C | 48th |
| Newport County | B | 77th |
Live weather alerts for Rhode Island
There are no active National Weather Service alerts for Rhode Island right now.
These live alerts come from the National Weather Service. They are public-safety information, not an outage prediction.
Rhode Island power outage FAQ
When do power outages happen most in Rhode Island?
July is historically the busiest single month for recorded outages in Rhode Island, and Summer (June–August) accounts for about 30% of all recorded outages across the state.
How long do power outages in Rhode Island typically last?
Across Rhode Island's tracked counties, the average recorded outage lasts about 3.1 hours, though individual events -- especially named storms -- can run much longer.
Which counties in Rhode Island have the highest outage risk?
Washington County, Bristol County, Kent County, Providence County, Newport County currently rank lowest for reliability in Rhode Island. See each county's page for its full history.
Does this page predict a power outage in Rhode Island?
No. It describes patterns in recorded county-level outage history, not a guaranteed future event. Check the live National Weather Service alerts below for current conditions.
Prepare for Rhode Island's outage season
Sized for Rhode Island's recorded outage frequency and duration.
