American Samoa:  After a particularly wet 2nd Quarter, American Samoa passed through the heart of its 2008 dry season with drier than normal rainfall. Pago Pago International Airport recorded below-average rainfall during the months of July, August and September, for a 3rd Quarter total of 14.18 inches (73% of normal).

American Samoa Rainfall Summary 3rd Quarter 2008

Climate Outlook: 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 next rainy season becomes established.

The 2008-2009 hurricane season is about to begin in the American Samoa region. Anticipated atmospheric circulation anomalies will once again favor reduced tropical cyclone activity in the region of American Samoa. Islands in the Coral Sea eastward to Fiji will likely be the site of much of the Southern Hemisphere’s upcoming summer tropical cyclone activity. Low-level easterly wind anomalies will likely suppress the typical summer excursions of the Australian Northwest Monsoon into areas east of the International Date Line. Only one or two episodes of gusty northwesterly winds are anticipated in American Samoa, with only one or two tropical cyclones posing a threat. (One or two tropical cyclones may pass safely to the south and/or west of American Samoa with mild effects on the islands.)

Forecast rainfall for American Samoa from October 2008 through September 2009 is as follows:

source: UOG-WERI