American Samoa, 2023

Flash Flood and Flood in American Samoa, May 17, 2023

May 17, 2023 · NWS ASO · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong trough moved over the American Samoa islands on May 17th to cause widespread flash flooding in the region. 10 inches of rainfall at Fagaitua throughout the day.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • 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
$260,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 strong trough moved over the American Samoa islands on May 17th to cause widespread flash flooding in the region. The highest amount of rainfall recorded was from an ASPA (American Samoa Power Authority) weather station, which recorded 9.10 inches of rainfall at Fagaitua throughout the day. The majority of this rainfall came between 100 and 700SST. WSO Pago Pago received 2.83 inches during this time.

The radar

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

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Event by event

1 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Manu'A

When
May 17, 1:00 AM SST to 7:00 AM SST
Where
Manu'A County, 6.34 mi NNE of Ta'U to 6.57 mi NNE of Ta'U
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
-14.214, -169.468

Emergency Management reported a landslide due to heavy rainfall between the villages of Fitiuta and village of Ta'u on the island of Ta'u during the early morning hours of May 17th. The landslide caused large boulders to topple over the only road that connects the two villages. Heavy rainfall also cause erosion underneath the road to create significant damage to the roadway making it impassible. There were no injuries.

Flood, Tutuila

When
May 17, 5:00 AM SST
Where
Tutuila County, 6.43 mi N of Vaitogi to 6.4 mi N of Vaitogi
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
-14.307, -170.706

Sagamea stream overflowed early Tuesday morning from heavy rainfall to cause debris flow to occur on both westbound and eastbound lanes of the main road in the village of Nu'uuli. The overflowed stream sent rocks, wood, tree limbs, and garbage to cover the roadway.

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.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in American Samoa in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in American Samoa, May 2023

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: 1093389, 1093392.