American Samoa, 2017

Flash Flood in American Samoa, December 7, 2017

December 7, 2017 · NWS ASO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) brought heavy precipitation across the Samoan Islands. 28 inches of rainfall, but showers were heavier near mountainous region.

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.

A South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) brought heavy precipitation across the Samoan Islands. The Weather Service Office in Tafuna recorded 1.28 inches of rainfall, but showers were heavier near mountainous region.

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
December 7, 3:00 AM SST to 6:00 AM SST
Where
Tutuila County, 9.62 mi NW of Vaitogi to 4.54 mi NE of Ofu
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
-14.321, -170.818

The SPCZ produced heavy rainfall especially over the mountainous region. The Weather Service Office in Tafuna recorded a total of 1.28 inches of rainfall.

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 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in American Samoa, December 2017

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: 729526.