Leanne Walker said that what quickly came out of thin air and started as a curiosity-grabber turned slightly chaotic.

“People near it didn’t know how to react, with some running away and others running right into it, and some not reacting at all!” said Walker, who captured the dust devil on video. “What struck me most was how fast it was moving and how much debris it picked up.”

At one point, the spout picks up what appears to be a rectangular object, which Walker later discovered was a piece of sheet metal dancing in the dust devil’s swirling winds. Others mentioned seeing cars with minor damage. There were no reported injuries.

Stunned spectators can be heard asking, “Is that dangerous?”

The soccer players played on, and “the referees and players seemed almost completely unfazed,” Walker said.

“The video only captures part of it — the dust devil was actually on the ground for 1–2 minutes in total.“

“Dust devils are pretty common and most occur under calm and sunny conditions,” Globe meteorologist Ken Mahan said, adding that they form when “the high sun angle warms up one part of the ground faster than the surrounding area. Think of a large parking lot surrounded by grass, covered by trees.”

The resulting pockets of air rise rapidly, leaving a low-pressure area in the center, which “pulls in surrounding air that can spiral inward and create a vortex in the right environment,” according to Bryce Williams, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norton. “They are quite common, especially in open, flat areas during the warmer months.”

Most dust devils, he said, usually end up around 50 feet wide or less, but some can double that,” he said, and are on average 500 to 1,000 feet tall. “The winds are exceptionally localized and, while mostly harmless, can get as strong as 70 or 80 mph at times, lasting for a few minutes to about 10 minutes.” But those more powerful winds are rare, especially in the Northeast, Mahan said.

Although most of the time dust devils are more spectacle than threat, Williams said people should still steer clear of one if they do see one nearby.

“Although smaller than tornadoes and forming in a completely different way, dust devils can still be destructive, sometimes lifting debris into the air, creating dangerous projectiles,“ he said.

Mahan said they look dramatic, but they “can’t be warned” because they’re too small to be detected by weather radar. Mahan likened them to the “cousin to the spinning leaf mini-tornadoes we see in the fall.”

“Oftentimes, these remain invisible, but when they pass over a source of dust or dirt, like a ballfield, they become visible,” Williams noted.

It’s safe to say no red card was issued to the dust devil as it tried to stop Sunday’s soccer game.

Carlos Muñoz can be reached at carlos.munoz@globe.com. Follow him @ReadCarlos and on Instagram @Carlosbrknews.

PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national and Rhode Island resident has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved shipping 10 parcels of cocaine and fentanyl to Rhode Island through two different private commercial mail carriers, announced United States Attorney Charles Calenda.

Nelson Reyes Luciano, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy to 78 months of imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $300 special assessment.

“Trafficking fentanyl and cocaine is a dangerous and deliberate act that claims lives within Rhode Island and communities throughout our country,” said United States Attorney Calenda. “This sentence should send a clear message to those who chose to engage in this type of criminal conduct that we will investigate, prosecute, and hold them accountable. I commend the dedicated prosecutors in our office, along with our law enforcement partners, for their relentless efforts in this case and their continued work in removing dangerous criminals from our streets and bringing them to justice.”

According to court documents, over a six-week period beginning in February 2022, Reyes Luciano shipped multiple packages containing cocaine and fentanyl from California to the Providence, Rhode Island home of co-conspirator Rosangeles Bueno.  Bueno was charged and convicted in a separate case in the District of Rhode Island, No. 22-cr-00090-WES-PAS.

The defendant and co-conspirator Bueno regularly communicated about the shipments of the drugs sent to her home and her receipt and storage of the drugs. During execution of a court-authorized search warrant at Bueno’s home, law enforcement found cocaine and fentanyl as well as scales, baggies, presses, molds, and respirators that are used for packaging drugs for distribution. Reyes Luciano is responsible for the receipt of approximately eight kilograms of cocaine and 2.2 kilograms of fentanyl.

Reyes Luciano pleaded guilty on December 9, 2025 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.

“This sentence puts Reyes Luciano’s drug trafficking aspirations to an end. Reyes Luciano and his co-conspirator attempted to use commercial mail carriers to bring dangerous drugs into Rhode Island, but through the vigilance of these companies, their scheme was exposed. HSI is partnering with local, federal, and private sector partners to take on the challenge of drug trafficking on all fronts,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise Barton and Stacey Erickson.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the DEA, and Warwick, Newport, Central Falls, and Providence Police Departments. 

Rhode Island is small enough that almost every town seems to sit on water, whether it’s Narragansett Bay, the Atlantic, the Sakonnet River, or one of their inlets. That geography shapes every downtown on this list. In Jamestown, it’s a one-minute walk from the coffee shop to the ferry dock. In New Shoreham, the Empire Theatre has been running on Block Island since 1882. Here are seven of the prettiest downtown strips in the state.

Jamestown

A distinctive feature of Jamestown is that it sits entirely on Conanicut Island. The benefit is that downtown is just steps from the water. A walk along Narragansett Avenue will take you past Out of the Box Studio & Gallery on adjoining Clinton Avenue. This community arts spot showcases the work of both professional and up-and-coming artists, with rotating exhibits that keep the gallery lively.

Locals appreciate the café for its pub fare (crispy fish sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks) and for almost-nightly events, from trivia to cover rock shows. Then walk up Conanicus Avenue to East Ferry Beach, a small cove where you can cast from the pier or relax on the sand.

Wickford

Wickford, a village within North Kingstown on the west side of Narragansett Bay, has one of the most intact colonial downtowns in New England. The grid of 18th-century houses along Brown Street and Main Street runs straight down to Wickford Harbor, where the village’s small marina fills with sailboats in summer. The Old Narragansett Church, built in 1707, is one of the oldest Episcopal churches still standing on its original site in the United States, and Smith’s Castle, a 1678 plantation house just north of town, is a landmark of early Rhode Island history.

The village’s commercial streets pack a lot of shopping and dining into a small footprint. Wilson’s of Wickford carries New England preppy and nautical goods in an old general-store space. Tavern by the Sea has a waterfront patio overlooking the harbor. The Wickford Art Association runs a gallery on Main Street and puts on the Wickford Art Festival each July, which has drawn juried artists to the village since 1962. Ryan Park, a few minutes inland, covers roughly 270 acres of trails and wetlands.

Bristol

Bristol rewards a day on foot. A trip down Hope Street makes for a solid mix of culture, shopping, and dining. The Bristol Art Museum is a good first stop for rotating exhibits and occasional painting and photographic-process workshops. Nearby is a stretch of restaurants that border Bristol Harbor. The Thames Waterside Bar & Grill lives up to its name with seafood and cocktails close to the shore. Boats sail by during the daytime before the skyline lights up as the sun descends, making the view of the harbor hard to beat.

Moving south down the street, a few minutes will bring you to Rockwell Park, a small but popular public space where you can get a close view of the boats tied up in the harbor. Moving back into town along John Street will bring you to Hope Street, where you can do some shopping. A stop at Jesse James Antiques near the junction of Hope and State Street will reveal fine French and European antiques that could add the perfect touch to your home.

Narragansett

Narragansett puts dining steps from the coast. A few shops sit just off Beach Street, like Shell Boutique, a seashell specialty store and a popular gift stop. Close to Shell Boutique is Queen of Cups, a local favorite for coffee, tea, and sweets. For dinner, head south to Kingstown Road and the seafood restaurant Celeste, known for calamari, charred octopus, and flounder.

Moving east from here to Ocean Road, you will find Memorial Square and nearby The Towers. This intersection is a fantastic photo spot that features a fish-themed town fountain. Finally, you can head north for just a few minutes to Narragansett Town Beach, a sandy seaside spot popular with surfers but open to anyone who wants to hit the water or relax on the shore.

Watch Hill

The best part about living in Watch Hill is how close shopping, dining, and the nearby coastal shores are to each other. Those traveling along Bay Street will find a streak of stores for every need. Island Outfitters is particularly appropriate for those in town, as they sell coastal gear for both men and women, ranging from stylish sweaters to denim pants and summer shorts. As you continue on to Bluff Avenue, you can find oceanside dining at The Bistro, which provides views of the Atlantic while you enjoy classic seafood like crab cake and seared salmon.

Just steps away, you will find sandy shores looking out onto Block Island Sound. The beach runs to Watch Hill Lighthouse, a local landmark that today operates as a museum showcasing the lighthouse’s history in the area. This combination of oceanside relaxation with convenient shopping and dining destinations makes for a beautiful afternoon in town.

Tiverton

Tiverton is an oceanside destination where shopping and dining happen alongside the water, creating a relaxing downtown vibe. On the west side of Tiverton, you can enjoy upscale dining over lamb stroganoff and hard-shell lobster at Boathouse Waterfront Dining. The restaurant offers waterside dining with views of Mt. Hope Bay. As you move onto Main Road, you can find other places to spend your day. Coastal Roasters serves matcha lattes and cocoa for casual days along the water.

Those hoping to get closer to the water can head to Ginnell’s Beach just a few minutes south of Coastal Roasters. The beach was renovated in 2019 with a new bathhouse and a promenade that runs to the Sakonnet River. You can also head east on Lawton Avenue until you reach Ft Barton Woods on Highland Rd to see the Revolutionary War-era remnants of Fort Barton. This park includes an observation tower with panoramic views of Narragansett Bay and around 3.5 miles of trails, all just across from Town Hall.

New Shoreham

New Shoreham, Rhode Island’s only incorporated Block Island town, packs its whole downtown into a few blocks of Water Street above the ferry landing. Ballard’s Beach Resort is the closest sand to the harbor and a popular spot for sunbathing or swimming. The beach sits next to the Old Harbor Historic District, where Water Street reveals buildings dating to the mid-1800s. Visitors enjoy downtown’s walking tours, featuring churches, hotels, and theaters with histories dating back over a century.

One example of these storied buildings is the Empire Theatre, built in 1882 and, over the years, serving as a roller skating rink, playhouse, and movie theater. If you are hungry, Rebecca’s Seafood is a long-running local spot on Water Street. The menu runs from tuna steak sandwiches to classic omelets, French toast breakfasts, and chicken wraps.

Downtowns Worth The Walk

Wherever you land in Rhode Island, the water is usually nearby. Bristol, Jamestown, New Shoreham, and the rest each pair a walkable downtown with a harbor or shoreline view. If you are looking for the prettiest downtowns in the state, start with these seven.