Rhode Island’s weather generally follows the seasons, which helps locals and visitors figure out what to expect. You get all four seasons here, and honestly, each one brings something different.
Rhode Island’s monthly temperatures swing from winter lows in the 20s and 30s to summer highs in the 70s and 80s. Spring and fall sit somewhere in the middle, offering those nice, mild transition periods. The coast takes the edge off extremes, so winters feel a bit less brutal than inland New England, and summers don’t usually get unbearable.
If you know Rhode Island’s monthly weather patterns, you can pick the best time to visit, plan that beach day, or just get ready for whatever’s coming next. Every month has its own mix of rain, daylight, and weather quirks that shape daily life in this tiny state.
Overview of Monthly Weather in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s seasons really show up. Winter temperatures run from 22°F to 39°F, and summer highs can reach 82°F in Providence.
Rain falls pretty steadily all year, but humidity gets rough in July and August, making it feel even hotter, especially if you’re not used to muggy weather. Muggy conditions definitely peak mid-summer.
Typical Weather Conditions by Month
Winter months hit Rhode Island with cold and plenty of snow. January and February usually dump the most, with Providence getting 8.4 inches and 7.8 inches, respectively.
March brings a bit of hope—temperatures start climbing into the 40s, and snow tapers off, dropping to about 4.1 inches in Providence.
April and May feel much more pleasant. Temperatures rise into the 50s and 60s, so outdoor plans get a lot easier.
June rolls in with the start of summer, and temperatures move into the 70s. July is the real scorcher, with Providence hitting highs of 82°F.
August keeps things warm, but September starts to cool off. Early fall usually means comfortable days in the 60s and 70s.
October and November keep cooling down. Temperatures drop from the 60s in October to the 50s in November. You can feel winter creeping back.
December wraps it all up with cold weather again. Snow returns, and Providence averages around 5.7 inches.
Monthly Temperature Patterns
You’ll notice pretty clear temperature trends as the year rolls on. Providence gets its coldest in January, with lows around 22°F and highs at 37°F.
Newport, thanks to the ocean, stays a bit warmer in winter. January temps there usually range from 26°F to 39°F.
Summer heats up both cities. Providence peaks at 82°F in July, while Newport reaches about 79°F.
That inland versus coastal difference sticks around. Providence is usually 2-4 degrees warmer in summer and colder in winter compared to Newport.
Spring warming doesn’t happen overnight—it’s gradual. March kicks it off, and by May, both cities are sitting in the upper 60s.
Fall cools down at the same slow pace. September stays warm in the low 70s, but temperatures drop as you move through October and November.
Winter means freezing temps for weeks on end. December through February rarely let up, and both cities stay below freezing for long stretches.
Humidity Trends Throughout the Year
Rhode Island turns up the humidity in the summer. July and August feel the muggiest, with dewpoints regularly over 65°F.
Providence usually gets about 11 muggy days in July and 10 in August. That humidity makes the heat feel way worse than the numbers suggest.
Newport actually deals with even more humidity. July brings 14 muggy days there, and August isn’t far behind with 13.
Spring and fall? Much more comfortable. May barely has half a muggy day in Providence, and September drops to just over four.
Winter stays dry, with almost no humidity issues. December through March, you won’t have to worry about muggy air in either Providence or Newport.
The ocean keeps Newport a little stickier year-round. Coastal spots just hold onto moisture longer.
If you’re visiting in summer, brace yourself for the humidity. Heat plus moisture can make July and August feel pretty oppressive.
Average Monthly Temperatures
Rhode Island’s temperature swings are pretty classic New England. Winter lows drop into the mid-20s°F, and summer highs push into the upper 70s°F.
You’ll notice a gradual warming from spring into summer, then things cool off again as fall heads into winter.
Temperature Ranges in °F and °C
Winter is the coldest, with December through February averaging between 26°F and 42°F (-3°C to 6°C).
Spring warms things up slowly from March to May. Early March sits in the low 40s°F (4°C), but by late May, you’re up in the mid-60s°F (18°C).
Summer is when things really heat up. June through August averages land in the 70s°F (21-26°C), and sometimes you’ll see the low 80s°F (27-29°C).
Fall cools off steadily. September still feels nice with upper 60s°F (20°C), but by late November, you’re back in the 40s°F (4-9°C).
Hottest and Coldest Months
July takes the crown as Rhode Island’s hottest month, with average temps peaking in the upper 70s°F (25-26°C). August is right behind.
December is usually the coldest month. Temps range from 26°F to 42°F (-3°C to 6°C), and snow is pretty common.
January and February don’t offer much relief from the cold. These months hover around the same averages as December, and nighttime rarely gets above freezing.
The spread between the hottest and coldest months hits about 50°F (28°C). That’s a big jump, but it’s what you get with a continental climate—even with the ocean nearby.
Seasonal Temperature Fluctuations
Rhode Island really does get four seasons, and the transitions are pretty noticeable. Winter stays cold from December through February, and you don’t see much change month to month.
Spring brings a steady warm-up starting in March. Each month, temperatures climb by about 10-15°F (6-8°C), so you really feel the difference.
Summer holds steady with warm temperatures. June through August don’t move much, staying right in that 70s°F (21-26°C) sweet spot.
Fall? That’s when the temperatures drop fast. From September through November, you’ll see drops of 10-20°F (6-11°C) each month as winter closes in.
Monthly Weather Conditions and Precipitation
Rhode Island gets rain pretty much year-round, but the amount and type of precipitation definitely change with the seasons. Sunshine and cloud cover also shift a lot from summer to winter.
Rainfall and Snowfall Patterns
Rhode Island picks up about 30 inches of precipitation a year. Rain falls on roughly 148 days annually.
Summer months usually get the heaviest rainfall, especially August. Thunderstorms pop up a lot in July and August.
Winter brings snow instead of rain. Rhode Island averages 20-30 inches of snow per year, with January and February bringing the most.
Spring and fall have moderate rain. These months often get steady, lighter showers rather than big downpours. April is famous for its showers as things warm up.
If you’re near Newport or the coast, you might see a bit more rain than folks inland in Providence. The ocean sometimes bumps up totals near the shore.
Storms and Severe Weather Incidents
Thunderstorms mostly show up in the summer. July and August are the busiest months for severe weather, with storms sometimes bringing heavy rain, strong winds, or even hail.
Winter storms roll in with snow and ice. Nor’easters are the big ones—they can dump a lot of snow in a short time.
Hurricane season runs from June through November. Rhode Island doesn’t get hit every year, but tropical storms do show up now and then in late summer or early fall. Coastal flooding can be a problem during these storms.
Spring severe weather isn’t super common, but it happens. Tornadoes are rare, but not impossible. Most spring storms are just strong thunderstorms.
Cloud Cover and Sunshine Hours
Winter months bring lots of clouds and not much sun. December and January average just 4-5 hours of sunshine a day, so overcast skies are the norm.
Summer is the opposite—clear skies and lots of sun. July usually has 8-9 hours of sunshine per day. Humidity also peaks in summer, often hitting 70-80%.
Spring and fall land somewhere in the middle, with 6-7 hours of sunshine daily. Cloud cover can change a lot during these months.
Coastal areas get more fog, especially in the morning during summer. That fog cuts down on sunshine hours for beach towns.
Sunrise and Sunset Times by Month
Daylight hours in Rhode Island shift a lot through the year. Summer days can stretch over 15 hours, but in winter, you barely get 9. The Northeast location really makes these seasonal patterns stand out.
Variation in Daylight Hours
Daylight swings dramatically from month to month. June brings the longest days with about 15 hours and 16 minutes of daylight at the summer solstice.
December flips that, with only 9 hours and 11 minutes during the winter solstice.
Spring months ramp up daylight fast. March adds about 1 hour and 20 minutes over February, and April tacks on another hour.
Summer holds onto those long days. July starts with more than 15 hours of daylight, but you lose about 44 minutes by month’s end. August keeps shrinking the days.
Fall brings the daylight crash. September loses about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and October speeds up the decline.
Winter sticks with the shortest days. November through January barely break 10 hours of daylight. February finally starts to add a little more.
Impact of Seasons on Sunrise and Sunset
Seasons really mess with sunrise and sunset times in Rhode Island. Winter sunrise comes late—around 7:15 AM in early January. The earliest sunset is mid-December, about 4:15 PM.
Spring means earlier sunrises and later sunsets. March sunrise shifts from 6:30 AM to 6:50 AM by the end of the month, while sunset moves from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM.
Summer gives you the earliest sunrises, around 5:15 AM in mid-June. Sunset peaks near 8:15 PM, making for the longest days of the year.
Fall reverses that. September sunrise moves from 6:15 AM to 6:55 AM, and sunset drops from 7:15 PM to 6:20 PM as daylight disappears fast.
Where you are in Rhode Island matters a little. Coastal spots might see sunrise 2-3 minutes earlier than inland areas, but sunset times don’t really change much across the state.
Seasonal Highlights in Rhode Island
Rhode Island really embraces all four seasons, with big swings in temperature and humidity. Each one brings its own weather patterns that shape day-to-day life.
Spring: Unpredictable Weather Shifts
Spring in Rhode Island is unpredictable. One week you’re in the 40s, and the next you might hit the 70s.
March can still feel like winter, with highs around 45°F. Snow isn’t out of the question.
April finally brings some warmth, with temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s. Rain gets more common as snow melts and storms roll in.
May feels like real spring. Most days climb into the 60s or even low 70s.
Spring weather challenges:
- Sudden temperature drops
- Heavy rain storms
- High winds
- Late season frost
Humidity starts out low in March but rises as things warm up. The ocean keeps the coast cooler than inland spots when it gets warm.
Summer: Warmth and Humidity
Summer is Rhode Island’s hottest stretch. Temperatures usually run from 72°F to 86°F at their peak.
July is the hottest, with average highs around 82°F. August isn’t far behind.
Summer characteristics:
- High humidity levels
- Afternoon thunderstorms
- Warm ocean temperatures
- Long daylight hours
Humidity can make it feel a lot hotter than the thermometer says. If you’re near the coast, the ocean breeze helps a bit.
Afternoon thunderstorms pop up often on hot days. They bring heavy rain and strong winds, but things usually cool off after the storm.
Nights stay warm, rarely dipping below the upper 60s or low 70s. Sleeping without AC can be tough during a heatwave.
Autumn: Cooling Temperatures and Foliage
Fall in Rhode Island starts out pretty warm, then cools off bit by bit. September often feels like summer, with temperatures hanging out in the 70s.
October really shakes things up. Highs drop from the 70s down into the 50s as the month goes on.
By November, it feels much colder, with most days in the 40s and 50s. The first frost usually shows up in late October or early November.
Fall weather patterns:
- Lower humidity
- More rain than in summer
- Occasional warm days
- First snow sometimes in November
As temperatures drop, humidity falls a lot too. The air feels more comfortable than it did in the muggy summer.
Rain picks up during fall. October actually ends up as one of the wettest months each year.
Winter: Cold, Snow, and Short Days
Winter hits Rhode Island with the coldest weather and most snow. From December through February, average highs stick to the 30s and 40s.
January usually claims the title of coldest month. Temperatures often stay below freezing all day long.
Snow falls pretty regularly in winter. Most years, Rhode Island gets about 20 to 35 inches.
Winter weather features:
- Frequent snowstorms
- Ice storms
- Strong winds
- Short days
Humidity drops to its lowest point in winter. The dry air makes the cold feel even sharper.
Coastal spots stay a bit warmer than inland areas. The ocean helps take the edge off the coldest days along the shore.
Best and Worst Months for Visiting
Rhode Island’s weather swings wildly through the year. Summer brings ideal conditions for most things, but winter can be pretty tough. Temperatures jump from the 30s in winter to the 80s in summer, so each season really has its own vibe.
Optimal Months for Outdoor Activities
June through August is the sweet spot for a Rhode Island visit. Average highs hit 80-83°F, which feels just right for the beach or wandering around outside.
July really stands out. Providence only averages about 9 rainy days, and the coast stays nice and comfortable, right around 80°F.
August gives you the warmest ocean temps—about 71°F. That’s the best stretch for swimming or water sports, honestly the only time the Atlantic feels warm enough for a long dip.
September is a great call if you want fewer crowds. Highs along the coast average 71°F, and the ocean still holds onto its summer warmth. The weather stays steady, and the humidity drops compared to July and August.
Early October can still deliver pleasant weather for hiking or sightseeing. Just be ready for the temperatures to start sliding down.
Months with Extreme Weather Conditions
December through February brings the roughest weather. In January, the temperature tops out at just 37°F during the day and sinks to 21°F at night.
Snow falls often in winter, and blizzards sometimes dump heavy snow across the state. These storms cut visibility and can throw travel plans into chaos.
November and March can be all over the place. One day feels mild, then the next day hits with biting cold—honestly, planning a trip gets tricky.
April is supposed to be spring, but it doesn’t always feel like it. The average temperature sits around 54°F, and the rain really picks up.
The weather stays too chilly for the beach, and honestly, it’s usually too damp for reliable outdoor adventures.
Coastal spots get hit even harder in winter. Strong winds and storm systems sweep up the Atlantic coast, making things even more unpredictable.