Rare November tornadoes struck Rhode Island. See where they touched down

Three tornadoes swept across parts of Rhode Island on Saturday, the first time a November tornado has been recorded in the Ocean State since 1950, according to the National Weather Service.

No deaths or injuries were reported, according to the Weather Service, which issued multiple tornado warnings Saturday and confirmed the tornadoes Sunday after surveying damage.

Two of the tornadoes started in Connecticut. The tornadoes uprooted trees, snapped power poles, blew a farm trailer 50 feet and tossed trampolines, according to the Weather Service. Despite the damage, all three were classified as weak.

More:Thousands lose power in RI as strong storms prompt tornado warnings

Plainfield to Foster

The first tornado started at about 4:48 p.m. in Plainfield, Connecticut, and continued into Foster, running for 6.13 miles and lasting about 14 minutes, until about 5:02 p.m. Its maximum estimated wind speed was 80 mph and width was 100 yards, according to the Weather Service.

After uprooting several hardwood trees on Sterling Hill Road in Plainfield, the tornado "proceeded along a northeast track into Rhode Island, where it made intermittent contact with the ground for 6 miles" before ending at the Cucumber Hill Farm in Foster, the Weather Service said.

At the farm, the tornado knocked over several trees and snapped others at the trunk about 15 feet high; it "blew out" multiple windows and a door, according to a man who answered a telephone number for the farm.

The tornado cut a narrow path, leaving some light items untouched but moving heavy farm equipment, said the man, who declined to give his name.  A 20-foot-long steel hay trailer was blown about 50 feet across the farm.

The man said damage was in "the thousands" but no people or animals were hurt. "It could always be worse," he said. The farm runs a lot of activities like corn mazes, pumpkin picking and hay rides, but none was happening Saturday.

The man had just finished his work for the day and was driving away when noticed the sky turning ominous. Returning a short time later, he saw the destruction.

Stonington to Westerly

The next tornado was the strongest, with maximum estimated winds of 90 mph. It started at about 4:54 p.m. in Stonington, Connecticut, and continued into Westerly, a path about 1.35 miles long and 100 yards wide. It lasted about six minutes, until 5 p.m.

The tornado touched down on Robinson Street in Stonington's Pawcatuck neighborhood, where it uprooted or snapped several hardwood trees, according to the Weather Service.

"A gutter was ripped off of one home while shutters were ripped off of another. Several trampolines were lifted, with one becoming stuck on a powerline approximately 20 feet in the air," the Weather Service said.

Also on Robinson Street, "a metal shed was lifted and flipped before being crushed by a large maple branch, with an approximate diameter of 15 inches. Several street signs were also snapped at their base," the Weather Service said.

"The tornado then continued on a northeast track into Westerly, Rhode Island, where it crossed RI 78 onto Center Street, where approximately 20 large, healthy hardwood trees were uprooted. A wood outbuilding was also flipped onto its side."

The tornado then crossed onto Hillview Drive before lifting at about 5 p.m., the Weather Service said.

North Kingstown into Wickford

The third tornado started at about 5:18 p.m. in North Kingstown and ran about 1.5 miles into the village of Wickford. Its maximum estimated winds were 80 mph and its maximum width was about 150 yards.

The tornado touched down just southwest of Dillon Ave., according to the Weather Service.

"Several large, healthy, hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped; while a few standing trees were sheared at the top," the Weather Service said.

The tornado then crossed over Route 102 onto Himes Street.

"In addition to numerous downed hardwood trees on Himes Street, approximately 4-5 power poles were snapped in half and a fallen tree caused window and roof damage to a home," the Weather Service said.

The tornado continued moving northeast toward Juniper Drive, where it knocked down some large limbs, with an approximate diameter of 15 inches, the Weather Service said. The tornado lifted over Hopedale Avenue in Wickford at about 5:24 p.m. 

jperry@providencejournal.com

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