American Samoa, 2015

High Surf in American Samoa, July 22 to 24, 2015

July 22 to 24, 2015 · NWS ASO · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Large surfs of 18 to 20 feet impacted west, south and east facing reefs of American Samoa. A combined south swell and seasonal trade-wind generated swells produced hazardous surfs and dangerous rip currents.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS ASO wrote it up.

Large surfs of 18 to 20 feet impacted west, south and east facing reefs of American Samoa. A combined south swell and seasonal trade-wind generated swells produced hazardous surfs and dangerous rip currents. Reports of coastal erosion and debris have damaged roads, while other parts of the Islands experienced waves wash up corals on the main road. The Talanei News reported residents observed waves crash on the road while other villages suffered from the horrendous heights of surfs pounding along the affected shores. A high surf warning and small crafts advisory were issued during this episode. No injury or fatality reported.

Event by event

3 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Tutuila

When
July 22, 2:00 PM SST to July 24, 3:00 PM SST
Where
Tutuila forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations

Large surfs of 18 to 20 feet impacted west, south and east facing reefs of American Samoa. A combined south swell and seasonal trade-wind generated swells produced hazardous surfs and dangerous rip currents. Reports of coastal erosion and debris have damaged roads, while other parts of the Islands experienced waves wash up corals on the main road. The Talanei News reported residents observed waves crash on the road while other villages suffered from the horrendous heights of surfs pounding along the affected shores. A high surf warning and small crafts advisory were issued during this episode. No injury or fatality reported.

High Surf, Manu`a

When
July 22, 2:00 PM SST to July 24, 3:00 PM SST
Where
Manu`a forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations

Large surfs of 18 to 20 feet impacted west, south and east facing reefs of American Samoa. A combined south swell and seasonal trade-wind generated swells produced hazardous surfs and dangerous rip currents. Reports of coastal erosion and debris have damaged roads, while other parts of the Islands experienced waves wash up corals on the main road. The Talanei News reported residents observed waves crash on the road while other villages suffered from the horrendous heights of surfs pounding along the affected shores. A high surf warning and small crafts advisory were issued during this episode. No injury or fatality reported.

High Surf, Swains

When
July 22, 2:00 PM SST to July 24, 3:00 PM SST
Where
Swains forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations

Large surfs of 18 to 20 feet impacted west, south and east facing reefs of American Samoa. A combined south swell and seasonal trade-wind generated swells produced hazardous surfs and dangerous rip currents. Reports of coastal erosion and debris have damaged roads, while other parts of the Islands experienced waves wash up corals on the main road. The Talanei News reported residents observed waves crash on the road while other villages suffered from the horrendous heights of surfs pounding along the affected shores. A high surf warning and small crafts advisory were issued during this episode. No injury or fatality reported.

What these are

High Surf
Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in American Samoa in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in American Samoa, July 2015

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 590702, 590704, 590705.