American Samoa:  Monthly rainfall in American Samoa varied greatly within the 1st Quarter of 2008. The year started out quite wet, with January rainfall totals of 22.17 inches at Pago Pago International Airport (158% of normal) and 25.05 inches at A‘asufou (135% of normal). February brought markedly drier conditions to the islands, with both A‘asufou and Pago Pago recording less than 50% of normal rainfall for the month. Near-normal rainfall returned in March, bringing the 1st Quarter totals for Pago Pago and A‘asufou to near normal (100% and 90% of normal, respectively). Tropical cyclone activity in the American Samoa region has been low, most likely because of La Niña conditions. — WSO Pago Pago

American Samoa Rainfall Summary 1st Quarter 2008

Climate Outlook: With continued La Niña conditions expected, computer forecasts and a consensus of outlooks from several regional meteorological centers indicate that rainfall in American Samoa is likely to be slightly below normal for the next few months. As the rainy season comes to a close, month to month rainfall will vary greatly depending on the establishment of the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) and the continued establishment and placement of the monsoonal trough originating out of Australia.

Tropical cyclones are possible in the South Pacific through June, and the PEAC Center is anticipating one or two more to occur in this basin. However, no tropical cyclone is expected to adversely affect American Samoa until late November or December of the next cyclone season of 2008-09.

Forecast rainfall for American Samoa from May 2008 through April 2009 is as follows:

source: UOG-WERI