The last three years have been warmer than ever and Samoa has experienced a gradual increase in temperature. On Monday the highest temperature recorded in Samoa was 31.9 degrees Celsius.

This temperature rise has significantly impacted the daily lives of Samoan locals, affecting everything from agriculture to health and well-being.

"We've had to carry around folded papers when we walk so that we can fan ourselves in this heat," said Merisa Apulu, one of the few women seeking shelter from the hot sun under a tree in Vaitele.

"Indeed, it is always hot all year round especially last year, but this year just feels so much hotter," said Fa'asamata Kurene who was sitting alongside Merisa Apulu and other friends.

According to the Climate Change Knowledge Portal, the average temperature in Samoa has risen by 0.2°C per decade since 1990. Between 1999 and 2021, the temperature rose by two degrees Celsius. 

The temperature in Samoa is typically tropical. Usually ranging between 24°C to 32°C daily, but recently, that has not been the case. Samoans who wait on the bus after a hard day of work can feel the difference.

Kotoni Fa'asau, Principal Climate Officer at MNRE, said that recent data could not be captured due to sensors not being calibrated.

"But we can tell just by looking at the recent observations, the warming trend, - it's clear - Samoa is getting hotter," Mr. Fa'asau said.

The highest mean temperature of 27.1°C occurs between December and March, while the lowest mean temperature of 26°C occurs between July and September.

Temperatures in January and February this year are already almost record temperatures.

According to SPREP, although 2023 was the warmest year on record globally, it was the third warmest year on record in the Western Pacific region. December 2023 was the warmest December on record, with August, September and October also warmer than their corresponding months in all previous years. 2016 was the hottest year on record for the Western Pacific.

The five warmest years on record in the Western Pacific have all occurred over the last 10 years.

According to Dr. Nicholas Herold with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in the SPREP report, while the second half of 2023 was extremely warm, the first five months of the year (2023) were much closer to the 1991 - 2020 average, consistent with La Niña conditions at the beginning of the year.”

La Niña is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, compared to El Niño, which is characterised by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific.  

On average, Samoa experiences 10 tropical cyclones per decade, usually between November and April. Because of the temperature rise, this number could increase in the next decade.

Globally, recent years have been experiencing record-high temperatures since 2014, and Samoa is no exception.