Providence, Rhode Island Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Providence weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Clear——86°55°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——89°57°+3°
- SaturdayJun 6Heavy Drizzle21%—91°62°+2°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers77%0.02″84°55°-7°
- MondayJun 8Overcast22%—70°53°-14°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast——77°52°+7°
- WednesdayJun 10Mostly Clear——84°58°+7°
Ozone at AQI 91 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. AQI up 24 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Levels should ease through evening.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 91 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.
- Present
- AQI 91
- UV peak
- 3.3 at earlier today
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 91
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 3:19 AM
- Moonset
- 12:38 PM
- In sign
- ♒︎ Aquarius
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Providence at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 10°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 27 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Providence
SPC has placed Providence in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
- DAY 3MRGLMarginal Risk
Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Providence's peak warmth with temperatures averaging around 74°F, while January delivers the year's coldest conditions at roughly 30°F. Precipitation follows its own pattern, with March receiving the most rainfall at 4.9 inches and July seeing the least at 2.9 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 4.0″ | 7 |
| February | 32° | 3.4″ | 6 |
| March | 39° | 4.9″ | 7 |
| April | 49° | 4.3″ | 7 |
| May | 59° | 3.4″ | 7 |
| June | 68° | 3.8″ | 6 |
| July | 74° | 2.9″ | 6 |
| August | 73° | 3.6″ | 6 |
| September | 66° | 4.2″ | 6 |
| October | 54° | 4.2″ | 7 |
| November | 45° | 4.3″ | 6 |
| December | 36° | 4.7″ | 8 |
Regional context
Providence belongs to the warm-summer humid continental climate region, sharing temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with other cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Cranston, RI, Warwick, RI, Pawtucket, RI, East Providence, RI, Woonsocket, RI.
Naturalist notes
American robins begin their spring song in Providence around late March, marking one of the earliest signs that winter's grip is loosening.
Sugar maples start leafing out in early May, their tender green foliage emerging as soil temperatures climb above 40°F.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Providence?
- Providence typically sees its last spring frost around mid-April, with the first fall frost returning around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Providence?
- March stands as the wettest month, delivering about 4.9 inches of rain on average, while the city's annual total reaches roughly 48 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Providence?
- July typically brings the warmest temperatures, averaging about 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Providence?
- January typically delivers the coldest temperatures, averaging about 30°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Providence?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Providence get?
- Providence experiences about 79 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Providence?
- Providence's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup tool using the city ZIP code provides the current zone designation.
Climate
Providence, Rhode Island experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. Winter temperatures in January typically hover near 30°F, while July averages reach 74°F, creating a 44°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation in Providence totals about 48 inches, distributed across roughly 79 rainy days throughout the year.
Geography shapes Providence's weather patterns through its latitude at 41.8°N, proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows locally, when frost occurs, and daily weather conditions.