A frontal system moved through southern New England with the warm front moving through first and increasing low level moisture.  Then the cold front moved through providing a lifting mechanism for showers and thunderstorms to develop.  High levels of moisture contributed to heavy downpours that resulted in flash flooding in Rhode Island and portions of Massachusetts.  All of this coupled with strong wind shear (turning of the winds with height) over southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island provided the perfect environment for a tornado to form.
This particular tornado began as a waterspout over Narragansett Bay and traveled east-northeast reaching land over the southern portion of Warren, Rhode Island.  The tornado continued for 4.2 miles into Swansea, Massachusetts over a mostly continuous track.  Most of the damage sustained was to trees which fell on power lines and houses.  This tornado was rated by a National Weather Service damage survey team as an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Lightning in PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
From 23-JUL-08 14:59:00 to 23-JUL-08 14:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: SCITUATE
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A house on Howard Avenue was struck by lightning and caught fire.

Hail in KENT, RHODE ISLAND
From 23-JUL-08 15:00:00 to 23-JUL-08 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: APPONAUG
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Flash Flood in KENT, RHODE ISLAND
From 23-JUL-08 14:55:00 to 23-JUL-08 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: COVENTRY CENTER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 90.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding that wreaked havoc across much of central Rhode Island.  In Coventry, numerous streets were flooded with three to four feet of water, including Arnold Avenue.  Cars were stuck in the flood waters on Sandy Bottom Road and Hopkins Hill Road, one with three kids trapped inside.  There was also a three car accident on Worthington Street due to flooding.
In West Warwick, Route 33 at Route 115 and Washington Street was flooded with ten inches of water on the road.  The fire department headquarters also was flooded.
In Warwick, two and a half feet of water flooded Route 2.  At the intersection of Route 5 and New London Avenue, cars were floating.  Radar rainfall rates were eight to ten inches per hour at this time.

Thunderstorm Wind in PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
From 23-JUL-08 14:59:00 to 23-JUL-08 14:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: SCITUATE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Trees on Thompson Hill were downed by thunderstorm winds.

Hail in KENT, RHODE ISLAND
From 23-JUL-08 14:49:00 to 23-JUL-08 14:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: COVENTRY CENTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Penny to quarter size hail fell in a swath from Coventry to West Warwick.

Hail in PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
From 23-JUL-08 14:55:00 to 23-JUL-08 14:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: OAK LAWN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Ping pong to golfball size hail fell in Cranston.

Tornado in BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND
From 23-JUL-08 15:05:00 to 23-JUL-08 15:09:00 (EST-5)
Location: BARRINGTON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 45.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service Damage Survey Team concluded that an EF-1 Tornado occurred in a portion of Eastern Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts.  A waterspout occurred just off of Rumstick Point in Barrington, Rhode Island.  This waterspout then moved onto land over the southern portion of Warren near the Warren/Bristol line at Hanley Farm Road.  It then continued eastward across the Kickemuit River in the Touisset Highlands section of Warren.  It then crossed the Cole River and continued into southeastern Massachusetts.
Most of the damage had a rating of EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with wind speeds of 65 to 75 mph.  However, there was one small section of Warren in the Laurel Park area that demonstrated EF1 damage.  This was located near the intersection of Route 136 and Harris Avenue, including Overhill Road.  Wind speeds in that area were estimated at 90 mph.
The tornado path length was 4.2 miles and for the most part was continuous.  It was very narrow with a path width of only 40 yards.  The tornado was first observed on land in Rhode Island at 4:05PM EDT.  It moved into Massachusetts around 4:09PM EDT.
No injuries were reported.  The majority of the damage was to trees, some of which fell onto power lines and houses.  There were numerous eyewitness accounts of dark funnels, swirling debris, and intense roaring.  A garage door bowed out towards the path of the tornado in one location.  A large tree near Harris Avenue was lifted up and thrown 40 feet onto Route 136.  At that location, small trailers also had been blown onto Route 136.

Flash Flood in PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
From 23-JUL-08 15:10:00 to 23-JUL-08 16:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: KENT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding across much of Rhode Island.  In East Providence, 4.5 inches of rain fell in 45 minutes.  At the intersection of Alexander Avenue and North Broadway, water was two feet deep.  In Providence, Route 10 was impassable due to flooding.  In Cranston, Pontiac Avenue was closed due to flooding.