Snow in Rhode Island: When It Happens and How Rare

Rhode Island’s weather can surprise people in spring, especially when it comes to snow. The last winter was busy with two heavy storms that hit the state in January and February, forcing residents to use shovels. A late‑season snow event is very unlikely now, but the state has seen snowfall in Providence as far out as May. The National Weather Service keeps a record of the latest snow, and it dates back to 1977 when a snowfall fell on May 10. In recent times, snow fell in April on the 18th of 2020, and Massachusetts might get a few flakes over the coming weekend. In most years, Providence has finished its snow season by now.Typical data shows that the first measurable snowfall—defined as at least 0. 1 inch—occurs around November 30, while the last one is usually by March 27. Since the National Weather Service began tracking these events in 1932, the earliest snowfall on record happened on October 10, 1979, and the latest on May 10, 1977. Looking at the years since 2001 gives a clearer picture of how early and late snow can be in Providence. The earliest measurable snowfall since 2001 was on October 29, 2011, and the most recent one fell on April 18, 2020. These dates show that while spring snow is rare, it can still occur and even extend into late April or early May under the right conditions.