Ice dam risk in Providence, RI
How often ice dams form in Providence
6.0 dam days a winter
Moderate risk. On an ordinary house in Providence, conditions for an ice dam come on about 6.0 days in a normal winter, mostly in January and February.
Providence averages 37 inches of snow a year and about 25 days with snow on the ground. Plenty falls, but it tends to melt off between storms, which keeps the count lower than the snowfall suggests. That gap is why snowfall alone misleads.
What your attic does to that number in Providence
| Attic | Dam days | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Air-sealed and well insulated | 4.1 | Low |
| Typical, some insulation, not air-sealed | 6.0 | Moderate |
| Older or poorly insulated, warm attic | 8.2 | Moderate |
The attic matters less in Providence than in colder towns: there are only 1.9 days a winter between a typical attic and a sealed one.
What to do about ice dams in Providence
- Rake the bottom three or four feet of roof after any storm that leaves more than about six inches, from the ground with a roof rake.
More on when a roof rake is worth it.
Providence winter, month by month
| Month | Snow (in) | Days on ground | Dam days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.3 | 8.3 | 2.3 |
| February | 10.5 | 7.9 | 2.1 |
| March | 6.4 | 3.9 | 0.7 |
| April | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| October | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| November | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| December | 7.6 | 3.9 | 0.8 |
Providence next to nearby towns
Providence ranks 5 of 8 Rhode Island cities here for ice-dam days, behind Pawtucket at 12.4 days.
- East Providence, RI 3 mi, 6.0 days
- Pawtucket, RI 4 mi, 12.4 days
- Central Falls, RI 5 mi, 12.4 days
- Cranston, RI 5 mi, 6.0 days
- Warwick, RI 8 mi, 6.0 days
Where these numbers come from
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from Providence, 7.0 miles from Providence. A dam day is a day with snow on the roof and freezing at the eave while heat or sun melts the snow above it. This describes a normal winter, not this one.