American Samoa, 2016

Flash Flood in American Samoa, May 21, 2016

May 21, 2016 · NWS ASO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Locally heavy rainfalls have triggered flash flooding across American Samoa, a result of an active surface trough near the Samoan Islands. 49 inches of rainfall.

Where it happened

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  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

Locally heavy rainfalls have triggered flash flooding across American Samoa, a result of an active surface trough near the Samoan Islands. The Weather Service Office recorded 2.49 inches of rainfall. Heavy flow of water along the small streams and across the main roads were observed.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Tutuila

When
May 21, 12:00 AM SST to 2:00 PM SST
Where
Tutuila County, 9.87 mi WNW of Vaitogi to 5.51 mi WNW of Pago Pago
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
-14.327, -170.826

Locally heavy rainfalls have triggered flash flooding across American Samoa, a result of an active surface trough near the Samoan Islands. The Weather Service Office recorded 2.49 inches of rainfall. Heavy flow of water along the small streams and across the main roads were observed.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in American Samoa in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in American Samoa, May 2016

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: 640552.