Foster Center, RI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Foster Center, Providence County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Foster Center?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 95 days in the Northwest Providence forecast zone and Providence County — the most common reported hazard around Foster Center, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (78 days) and flooding (56 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 95 | Jan 2026 | Mar 5, 2001 · $10 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 78 | Aug 2025 | Aug 21, 2004 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 56 | Jan 2024 | Mar 29, 2010 · $27 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 38 | May 2024 | Sep 2, 2013 · $1.5 million damage |
| High winds | 36 | Apr 2024 | Jan 21, 2006 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 25 | Jul 2025 | Jun 25, 2012 · $150,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Jul 2011 | — |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 3 | Aug 2021 | Aug 22, 2021 · $80,000 damage |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Northwest Providence forecast zone and Providence County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Foster Center get?
A normal year brings about 62 inches of snow to Foster Center, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the N Foster 1 E weather station 4.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (15.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.0 | 12.4 | 15.5 | 15.6 | 13.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Foster Center?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBOX (Boston, MA), about 33 miles east-northeast. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Foster Center | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBOX Boston, MA | 33 mi east-northeast | 2,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOKX Upton, NY | 87 mi southwest | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 131 mi west-northwest | 14,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Foster Center
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 35 tornadoes within 25 miles of Foster Center, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 9, 1953, which passed about 25 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 26, 2024, which passed about 17 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 102 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 30, 1998.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Foster Center's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Foster Center radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Foster Center, RI?
KBOX (Boston, MA), about 33 miles east-northeast. KOKX (Upton, NY) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Foster Center?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Foster Center the lowest scan from KBOX is about 2,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Foster Center free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Foster Center, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Cranston, RI radar 13 mi
- Providence, RI radar 16 mi
- Warwick, RI radar 17 mi
- Central Falls, RI radar 19 mi
- Woonsocket, RI radar 19 mi
- East Providence, RI radar 19 mi
- Pawtucket, RI radar 19 mi
- Newport, RI radar 30 mi