Cyclones in American Samoa
Cyclones occur rarely in American Samoa. On average, they happen about once per year. The hardest hit region is Western District.The typical cyclone season depends on the summer monsoon. In the months before (May to June) and after (October to November), the most severe storms occur.
American Samoa has certainly been affected by the foothills of several cyclones, but during the past 12 months no cyclone reached the inhabited areas on land.
Other natural hazards in American Samoa:
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Current satellite image of the south-east Pacific
06.02.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent cyclones in American Samoa since 2018
Zazu: December 13-16, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 100 km/h
Diameter:
max. 296 km
Air pressure:
below 985 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On December 13th, 2020 at 1:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 406 km southeast of Vailoatai in Western District.
Wasi: February 20-23, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 111 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 975 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On February 22nd, 2020 at 4:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 149 km east of Leone in Western District.
Vicky: February 20-24, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 78 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 296 km
Air pressure:
below 990 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Western District
Western District
Pola: February 25 to March 3, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 180 km/h
Diameter:
max. 204 km
Air pressure:
below 950 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The cyclone did not make direct landfall. On February 25th, 2019 at 1:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 522 km east of Leone in Western District.
These evaluations are based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual data have been summarized or translated.