Providence, RI climate
Providence has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 37 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Providence feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Providence weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 22° | 4.0" | 10.3" | 11 | 8 | 21° – 37° |
| February | 40° | 23° | 3.5" | 10.5" | 10 | 8 | 18° – 39° |
| March | 47° | 30° | 4.8" | 6.4" | 12 | 4 | 33° – 46° |
| April | 58° | 39° | 4.4" | 0.6" | 12 | 0 | 45° – 53° |
| May | 68° | 49° | 3.5" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 53° – 63° |
| June | 77° | 58° | 4.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 64° – 70° |
| July | 83° | 64° | 3.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| August | 81° | 63° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 69° – 76° |
| September | 74° | 56° | 4.1" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| October | 63° | 45° | 4.8" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 51° – 61° |
| November | 53° | 36° | 4.2" | 1.0" | 10 | 1 | 40° – 49° |
| December | 43° | 28° | 4.8" | 7.6" | 12 | 4 | 29° – 46° |
| Year | 60° | 43° | 49.3" | 36.6" | 127 | 25 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Providence
Providence gets 49 inches of rain and melted snow a year. March is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 127 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 25 days of the year.
About 199 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 11 and the first one by October 30. That leaves about 199 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 72% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Providence
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Providence, 87% of that work is heating and 13% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Providence and its neighbors
Providence borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 2.5°. Johnston has the coldest January nights (20°) and Cranston the hottest July afternoons (83°). Providence’s January low is 22° and its July high 83°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Providence compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Providence averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.4°). The shift is larger than in 94% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Providence’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 18° to 39°. June is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Providence’s climate
What is the coldest month in Providence?
January, with a typical high of 38° and a low of 22°.
What is the hottest month in Providence?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 64°. About 12 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Providence get?
About 37 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Providence?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 30, and the last spring frost by April 11.
What is the rainiest month in Providence?
March, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Providence itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Providence T F Green Airport, RI (7 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.