On this date in weather history: November tornado outbreak

11 tornadoes broke out across Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island, the first time any saw a tornado this late in the year

On this date two years ago, it was a busy Saturday evening here in the ABC6 weather center as three tornadoes ravaged parts of Rhode Island.

They were then confirmed by the NWS the following day, making them the first in November in Rhode Island’s recorded history, which for tornadoes goes back to 1950.

The first tornado was an EF-0 that touched down at 4:48pm on Saturday starting in Plainfield, CT. Several trees were uprooted there before the tornado traveled northeast into Providence County. The NWS said the tornado then made “intermittent contact” with the ground for six miles, ending at Cucumber Hill Farm in Foster, RI at about 5:02pm. There were several downed trees on the farm, and a large trailer on the farm was moved 50 feet. The maximum wind speed was 80 mph.

The second tornado was stronger, rated an EF-1. It started in Stonington, CT and crossed the state border into Westerly. The tornado happened between approximately 4:54pm – 5:00pm. It had a maximum wind speed of 90 mph and was about 100 yards wide, traveling approximately 1.35 miles. The tornado had uprooted about 20 large, healthy hardwood trees on Center Street in Westerly. A wood building had been flipped on its side. The tornado lifted after crossing onto Hillview Drive.

The third tornado touched down between about 5:18pm – 5:24pm in North Kingstown. It was rated an EF-0 by the NWS, with a maximum wind speed of 80 mph. The tornado was about 150 yards wide and traveled about 1.5 miles. The storm moved into Wickford before dissipating. The tornado had uprooted several healthy hardwood trees near Dillon Avenue in North Kingstown before crossing over to Himes Street, where it snapped several power poles in half.  One tree that fell caused damage to a home. The tornado also took down several large branches on Juniper Drive and Route 1. The tornado lifted after reaching Hopedale Avenue in Wickford.