Tropical Storm — Tutuila, American Samoa

2018-02-09 · Tutuila, American Samoa

Event narrative

Tropical Cyclone Gita combined with an active monsoon trough generated destructive winds and torrential rainfall between the hours of 4 AM to 2 PM. At the peak of the tropical storm before 8 AM, the Weather Service Office and most of American Samoa lost power. The NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Office in Matatula recorded 64 kt gust 85 kt, and the radiosonde data reported 59 kt around 6 AM. Tropical Cyclone Gita caused widespread damages to homes, private and personal properties, government facilities, roads, electrical poles and wires, phone lines, and plantations across American Samoa. About 965 people including children evacuated to 12 shelters on the island of Tutuila. Numerous mudslides, flash flooding in small streams and low-lying areas were results of heavy rainfall. Heavy runoff swept debris and water into homes near valleys and small streams area. Several banyan trees and most breadfruit trees were uprooted.

A cargo shipping boat in Manu'a, Uila o le Sami, sank in Ta'u. Another similar incident occurred where an alia boat sank in Fagaitua bay but was later recovered by the owners on the following day. A storm surge up to 2 to 4 feet swept debris over the main road and beach area along the northwest through northeast shores of Tutuila, Aunuu and Manu'a. There we no fatalities reported.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Cyclone Gita combined with an active monsoon trough generated destructive winds and torrential rainfall between the hours of 4 AM to 2 PM. At the peak of the tropical storm before 8 AM, the Weather Service Office and most of American Samoa loss power. The NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Office in Matatula recorded 64 kt gust 85 kt, and the radiosonde data reported 59 kt around 6 AM. Tropical Cyclone Gita caused widespread damages to homes, private and personal properties, government facilities, roads, electrical poles and wires, phone lines, and plantations across American Samoa. About 965 people including children evacuated to 12 shelters on the island of Tutuila. Numerous mudslides, flash flooding in small streams and low-lying areas were results of heavy rainfall. Heavy runoff swept debris and water into homes near valleys and small streams area. Several banyan trees and most breadfruit trees were uprooted.

A cargo shipping boat in Manu'a, Uila o le Sami, sank in Ta'u. Another similar incident occurred where an alia boat sank in Fagaitua bay but was later recovered by the owners on the following day. A storm surge up to 2 to 4 feet swept debris over the main road and beach area along the northwest through northeast shores of Tutuila, Aunuu and Manu'a. There we no fatalities reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 743255. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.