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Rhode Island
A Rare Blue Supermoon Is Coming: What To Know In RI
RHODE ISLAND — The rare blue moon coming to the skies above Rhode Island on Monday, Aug. 19, isn’t just special, it’s also the first of four consecutive supermoons.
The moon turns full at 2:26 p.m. Monday. You won’t be able to see it then, but it will appear a bit bigger and brighter than normal as it rises in the east just after sunset. That’s at 7:38 p.m. local time.
The weather has to cooperate, of course. The National Weather Service forecast for early next week — the moon will appear full from Sunday through Wednesday — calls for cloudy conditions, so hopefully the clouds don’t block the moon.
Here’s what you need to know:
This Is A Seasonal Blue Moon
Monday’s full moon is a blue moon under the traditional definition. Since the 1940s, the term “blue moon” has been used in common usage for the second full moon of a month. That’s not the case here. Monday’s is a seasonal blue moon.
As NASA describes it, a seasonal blue moon is the third full moon that occurs in an astronomical season that has four full moons instead of the usual three.
The first recorded use of the term in English was in 1528, with speculations including the origin of the term was “betrayer moon” because it led to mistakes in setting the dates for Lent and Easter.
“Or,” NASA said, “it may be a comparison to rare events such as when dust in the atmosphere makes the moon actually appear blue.”
The moon won’t appear blue, barring something unforeseen like that. It will look silvery to gray, just like always.
Except …
It’s The 1st Of 4 Supermoons
“Supermoon” is a term coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle to describe the phenomenon when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth, or at perigee, at the same time the moon is full. As the term has been popularized, especially in the past decades, the biggest and brightest full moons of the year have become a favorite among skywatchers.
Supermoons aren’t equal in intensity, and Monday’s won’t be the most impressive in the string of four supermoons coming our way. That’s because some lunar perigees come closer to Earth than others, At “extreme perigee,” that is the closest, the moon can appear 14 percent larger and about 16 percent brighter.
The supermoons of Sept. 18 and Oct. 17 are “virtually tied for the closest of the year,” NASA says. The last of the four supermoons is on Nov. 15.
Monthly Full Moons Have Other Names
Before anyone started using terms like “supermoon,” full moons were given names to help Native American tribes and others keep track of the seasonal changes that dictated the lives of their communities.
August’s full moon is often called the “full sturgeon moon” because it’s the time of year when sturgeon, a staple for Native Americans in the region, were easily caught in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
It has several other names, including the “flying up moon,” which the Cree used to describe the time of year when young birds fledge their nests, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Other names include the “corn or green corn moon,” the “barley moon,” the “herb moon,” the “grain moon,” and the “dog moon,” according to NASA.
Sept. 18’s full supermoon will be a super harvest moon, and it will also undergo a partial lunar eclipse. The Oct. 17 full supermoon will be a super hunter’s moon, and the closest to Earth of the four — though as NASA noted, the Sept. 18 full moon also will come close. And the Nov. 15 full supermoon will be the super beaver moon.
Have a news tip? Email jimmy.bentle@patch.com.
Why is the flag at half staff? These are possible reasons
The flag of the United States of America is flown at half-staff on several occasions, generally marking that the country is in mourning
On Friday, May 15, flags will be flown at half-staff across the United States to commemorate Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Recognized each year since 1962 as part of May’s National Police Week, the national observance pays tribute to United States law enforcement officials who gave their lives in the line of duty, whether at the local, state or federal level.
“United in gratitude, we recommit ourselves to supporting those who keep the peace in our neighborhoods, and we offer our heartfelt appreciation for the service they render to community and country,” reads a proclamation from President Trump. “Their steady presence brings calm to our streets, their dedication preserves the order that allows our Nation to flourish, and their unwavering vigilance is the reason families across America can rest under the promise of a safer tomorrow.”
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the flag of the United States at all public buildings and grounds across the country and its territories – including in Rhode Island – will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, May 15.
Why are flags flown at half-staff?
According to the official website of the U.S. General Services Administration, flags typically fly at half-staff when the country or specific state is in mourning. Observances include national tragedies, days of remembrance and deaths of government or military personnel.
The president, the state governor or the mayor of Washington, D.C., can order flags to fly at half-staff.
Half-staff vs. half-mast
While half-staff refers to lowered flags on land, half-mast refers to those at sea. Both refer to a flag being flown beneath the top of its staff as a sign of respect.
RI’s Verdi Productions films ‘Bad News On The Doorstep’ in Providence
Verdi Productions wrapped filming of Tom DeNucci’s “Bad News On The Doorstep” early on May 23 in Providence.
Verdi Productions’ secret horror movie, “My Boyfriend is a Demon,” now filming in Rhode Island, is no longer a secret as Chad A. Verdi, the East Greenwich production company’s president, has announced the cast and given an outline of the movie’s plot.
The ensemble cast comprises veteran actors and rising young talents. The story follows Mary, a lonely, small-town girl who creates a fake Instagram account that pretends to be boyfriend, a guy too perfect to be real. Mary puts so much effort into making him “real” that he shows up at her door one day.
The cast includes:
- Mattias Ferrell, son of comic actor Will Ferrell and known for “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”
- Coco Arquette, daughter of Courteney Cox and David Arquette and known for “Cougar Town.”
- David Arquette, known for his work in the “Scream” film franchise.
- Rosanna Arquette, David’s sister and Coco’s aunt, known for “The Moment.”
- Bailey Sloan, known for “Ragamuffin.”
- Jack Champion, known for “Avatar.”
- Ever Anderson, known for “Peter Pan & Wendy.”
- Vinnie Hacker, known for “Euphoria.”
- Josephine Reitman, known for “Juno.”
- Savannah Lee Smith, kown for “Tunsel Town.”
- Lisa Yamada, known for “Elle.”
- Ty Law, known for “Friday Night Lights.”
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is written and directed by first-time director mishka.
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is filming in Providence
The movie began filming in Rhode Island in April and has rented Providence’s Cranston Street Armory for the month of May to use as a studio.
The producing team for Verdi Productions includes Chad A. Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Michelle Verdi and Sera Verdi. Executive producers include Ketchup Entertainment and Kinolime.
Good morning! Happy Thursday! Today will be pretty unsettled with the chance for showers and t’storms. Friday will still be damp with showers and drizzle, but the weekend still looks amazing!
The one good thing with the rain, for allergy sufferers at least, the pollen levels will be lower. In fact, both today and tomorrow, the tree pollen counts will be low locally. Do expect a spike in the pollen count for Saturday and Sunday with the dry weather.
INTERACTIVE RADAR: Live Pinpoint Weather 12 Radar »
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” FLIGHT TRACKER
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” POWER OUTAGES
TODAY
Hour-by-hour forecast for today…
We’ll have some showers around during the morning commute today, but the greatest chance for showers and t’storms will be after 9AM and before 5PM.
Showers and thunderstorms could slow travel around mid-day. Rain could fall heavily at times.
A line of showers and t’storms will be sweeping across the area through the afternoon as a slow-moving weather systems moves through the region.
Highs today will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s with southeast to east winds of 5-15mph.
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” BEACH AND BOATING FORECASTS
TONIGHT
Showers are still possible this evening; although they won’t be as numerous.
TOMORROW
That low center will be nearby Friday morning, and we’ll be stuck with a damp, cool windflow. Expect drizzle and showers in the morning and possibly some lingering showers in the afternoon.
Highs Friday will only be in the 50s. The average high this time of year is in the upper 60s.
LOOKING AHEAD
Then…there’s the weekend. Saturday looks amazing with lots of sunshine and dry weather. It’ll be warmer, too, with highs in the 70s.
-Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo
T.J. Del Santo (tdelsanto@wpri.com) is the weekday morning and noon meteorologist for 12 News. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Threads and BlueSky.
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