Providence, RI Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Providence
Seasons are the whole story in Providence. The gap between an average July and an average January is 24°C - hot, humid summers and generally mild winters - which in practice means 83°F (28°C) afternoons at one end of the calendar and 38°F (3°C) at the other.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 83°F (28°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 38°F (3°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 100°F (38°C) high · -14°F (-26°C) low
- Wettest month: December (11 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (11.1 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 24°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 9°C
- Snow: about 14 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 4
- Average humidity: 71%
Temperatures through the year
Sunshine averages 8.3 hours a day over the year - duller than about 75% of the cities we track, peaking in July at 11.1 hours. January sits at the other end of the year: 38°F (3°C) by day, 23°F (-5°C) at night. At its warmest, in July, Providence runs to 83°F (28°C) in the afternoon and back to 66°F (19°C) by dawn. Snow falls on roughly 14 days a year, mostly December through April.
Rain, sun and snow
Between the average July and the average January lie 24°C, a wider spread than roughly 80% of the cities we track. Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 4 months, December through March. December is the wettest month at 5.1 inches (129 mm) over 11 days; August is the driest. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 100°F (38°C) and the lowest daily minimum -14°F (-26°C).
How Providence compares
- 26% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more evenly spread than almost every other city we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 23° | 10 | 4.5 in | 5.9 h/day | 67% |
| February | 41° | 23° | 10 | 3.6 in | 6.8 h/day | 69% |
| March | 47° | 29° | 12 | 4.4 in | 8.0 h/day | 65% |
| April | 57° | 39° | 12 | 4.7 in | 8.4 h/day | 68% |
| May | 69° | 50° | 11 | 3.5 in | 9.8 h/day | 70% |
| June | 77° | 59° | 11 | 3.7 in | 11.0 h/day | 71% |
| July | 83° | 66° | 13 | 4.7 in | 11.1 h/day | 74% |
| August | 82° | 65° | 12 | 3.5 in | 10.6 h/day | 74% |
| September | 75° | 59° | 10 | 4.5 in | 8.7 h/day | 76% |
| October | 64° | 48° | 10 | 4.6 in | 7.4 h/day | 76% |
| November | 52° | 36° | 8 | 3.6 in | 6.7 h/day | 70% |
| December | 43° | 29° | 11 | 5.1 in | 5.7 h/day | 72% |
Providence month by month
Providence weather in January
January brings highs around 38°F (3°C), lows near 23°F (-5°C), about 10 wet days and roughly 4 snowy days - typically the coldest month of the year in Providence.
Providence weather in February
February brings highs around 41°F (5°C), lows near 23°F (-5°C), about 10 wet days and roughly 4 snowy days.
Providence weather in March
March brings highs around 47°F (8°C), lows near 29°F (-1°C), about 12 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days.
Providence weather in April
April brings highs around 57°F (14°C), lows near 39°F (4°C), about 12 wet days.
Providence weather in May
May brings highs around 69°F (20°C), lows near 50°F (10°C), about 11 wet days.
Providence weather in June
June brings highs around 77°F (25°C), lows near 59°F (15°C), about 11 wet days.
Providence weather in July
July brings highs around 83°F (28°C), lows near 66°F (19°C), about 13 wet days - typically the hottest month and the sunniest month of the year in Providence.
Providence weather in August
August brings highs around 82°F (28°C), lows near 65°F (19°C), about 12 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Providence.
Providence weather in September
September brings highs around 75°F (24°C), lows near 59°F (15°C), about 10 wet days.
Providence weather in October
October brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 10 wet days.
Providence weather in November
November brings highs around 52°F (11°C), lows near 36°F (2°C), about 8 wet days.
Providence weather in December
December brings highs around 43°F (6°C), lows near 29°F (-2°C), about 11 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days - typically the wettest month of the year in Providence.
Seasons in Providence
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Providence is mild: 58°F (14°C) by day, 39°F (4°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days, plus about 4 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer sits firmly in the heat here - highs near 81°F (27°C), nights near 64°F (18°C), and rain falls on around 36 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.9 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Providence is crisp but comfortable, with daytime highs averaging 64°F (18°C) and nights around 48°F (9°C); expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter is chilly here - highs near 41°F (5°C), nights near 25°F (-4°C), and rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days, plus about 10 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How many rainy days does Providence get in a year?
Is Providence cold in winter?
What should I pack for Providence?
Is Providence humid?
Best time to visit Providence
Aim for August to October and May to June if you get the choice: these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year, and highs average 73°F (23°C) against roughly 11 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in August.
Pack for Providence with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. July nights average 66°F (19°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Providence temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.