High Surf — Manu'a, American Samoa

2024-01-22 to 2024-01-23 · Manu'a, American Samoa

Event narrative

Facebook photos show a flooded park and church along the northern coastline in the village of Faleasao. Other pictures in the area show ocean debris that moved onto residential properties caused by surf from strong/long period northerly swell, which occurred during the afternoon of January 22nd through the morning of January 23rd. Surf heights are estimated to have reached up to 18 feet.

Wider weather episode

Long period northerly swell, developed from a storm in the north Pacific on Jan 17th and 18th, moved through the American Samoa coastal waters on the 22nd and 23rd. There were numerous reports from the northern shores of American Samoa that showed inundation from the high surf.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1149096. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.