American Samoa, 2017

Heavy Rain in American Samoa, February 8, 2017

February 8, 2017 · NWS ASO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds associated with a surface trough over the Samoan Islands have triggered flash flooding in small streams, rapid runoff along valleys and small streams, and landslides near Matafao Elementary in Fagaalu. 27 inches of rainfall during the 24-hour period while heavier showers fell near mountainous locations.

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
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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.

Heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds associated with a surface trough over the Samoan Islands have triggered flash flooding in small streams, rapid runoff along valleys and small streams, and landslides near Matafao Elementary in Fagaalu. The Weather Service Office received 3.27 inches of rainfall during the 24-hour period while heavier showers fell near mountainous locations. Gusty winds up to 50 mph have impacted a few banana plantation across Tutuila. Heavy water ponding were noticeable in the Tualauta region and Eastern district. Reports of immensely heavy rain were also reported from Manu'a Islands. No injury or fatalities reported.

The radar

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

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Event by event

1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Tutuila

When
February 8, 12:00 AM SST to 11:59 PM SST
Where
Tutuila County, 10.43 mi WNW of Vaitogi to 79.22 mi E of Pago Pago
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
-14.329, -170.837

Heavy rainfall combined with strong gusty winds up to 50 mph were associated with a surface trough that was located over the Samoan Islands. This phenomenon triggered flash flooding in small streams, rapid runoff along valleys and small streams, and landslides near Matafao Elementary in Fagaalu. Strong gusty winds impacted a few banana plantation across Tutuila. The Weather Service Office received 3.27 inches of rainfall during the 24-hour period while heavier showers fell near mountainous locations. Heavy water ponding were noticeable in the Tualauta region and Eastern district. Reports of immensely heavy rain were also reported from Manu'a Islands. No injury or fatalities reported.

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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, February 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: 669710.