Rhode Island Climate

Rhode Island has a humid continental climate, with hot and humid summers and cold winters. During the summer months temperatures can reach well into the 80s and 90s, while during the winter months they can plunge down below freezing. Annual precipitation is fairly consistent throughout the year, averaging around 45 inches annually, with some of the highest precipitation occurring in May and October. Rhode Island has one of the mildest overall climates in New England, however there can be bouts of extreme weather such as hurricanes, nor'easters, and snowstorms that can affect the region.

Rhode Island, Rhode Island gets 50 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Rhode Island averages 35 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

On average, there are 202 sunny days per year in Rhode Island. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Rhode Island gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 124 days per year. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. In order for precipitation to be counted you have to get at least .01 inches on the ground to measure.

Weather Highlights

Summer High: the July high is around 82 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 19
Rain: averages 50 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 35 inches of snow a year

Bestplaces Comfort Index

Rhode Island's annual BestPlaces Comfort Index of 7.0 (10=best) indicates it is about average compared to other states in the United States.

9.1 Summer - 5.1 Winter

June, August and July are the most pleasant months in the state of Rhode Island, while January and February are the least comfortable months.

Climate	Rhode Island, Rhode Island	United States
	49.8 in.	38.1 in.
	35.1 in.	27.8 in.
	123.7 days	106.2 days
	202 days	205 days
	81.5°	85.8°
	18.9°	21.7°
	7	7
	3.6	4.3
	185 ft.	2443 ft.

Climate

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Many people confuse weather and climate but they are different. Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere is over long periods of time.

Weather is how the atmosphere is behaving and its effects upon life and human activities. Weather can change from minute-to-minute. Most people think of weather in terms of temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, brightness, visibility, wind, and atmospheric pressure.

Climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a place. Climate can mean the average weather for a particular region and time period taken over 30 years. Climate is the average of weather over time.

July is the hottest month for Rhode Island with an average high temperature of 81.5°, which ranks it as cooler than most states. In Rhode Island, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Rhode Island are June, August and July.

Rhode Island has 5.8 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most states in the U.S.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Rhode Island with an average of 18.9°. This is about average compared to other of the U.S. states.

Rhode Island has 123.5 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is about average compared to other states in the U.S.

Rhode Island averages 2.3 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is about average compared to other states in the U.S.

The humidity is usually comfortable in the state of Rhode Island but some summer months can be sticky or muggy. July is the most humid month, though humidity is low for most of the year. The most humid months are July, August and June.

March is the wettest month in Rhode Island with 5.1 inches of rain, and the driest month is February with 3.6 inches. The wettest season is Summer with 27% of yearly precipitation and 23% occurs in Autumn, which is the driest season. Rhode Island's average annual rainfall of 49.8 inches indicates that it is wetter than most states in the United States.

May is the rainiest month in Rhode Island with 12.1 days of rain, and September is the driest month with only 9.0 rainy days. Rhode Island's annual average of 123.7 days with measurable rain is rainier than most states in the United States. The rainiest season is Summer when it rains 28% of the time and the driest is Winter with only a 23% chance of a rainy day.

With an average annual snowfall of 35.1 inches, Rhode Island is less snowy than most states in the United States. January is the snowiest month in Rhode Island with 9.9 inches of snow, and 6 months of the year have significant snowfall.

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adam · Dublin, GA

Bad

Over 3 years ago

Never been and don't want to, also quohog from family guy isn't More

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CKit · Godfrey, IL

Thank a higher power, I'm only visiting....

Over 3 years ago

I've already been here just less than two weeks and I can tell you now, I will NOT EVER intentionally travel to this state again. I cannot understand where all the More

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Dee · Vancouver, WA

kid

Over 7 years ago

ltfdfiyfi.;tdluitflyutdl More

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