The islands of Manono and Apolima have no tide gauges, and the automatic weather station on Manono is currently non-operational, which limits real-time monitoring of sea levels and weather conditions.

In an email to the Samoa Observer, Afaese Dr Luteru Tauvale, assistant chief executive officer of the Meteorology Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), confirmed that an Automatic Weather Station on Manono is not working because of technical problems. Plans to restore it are underway.

"There is an existing Automatic Weather Station in Manon," he said. "However, it is currently non-operational due to technical issues, which are being addressed."

An automatic weather station is an automated system that collects, processes and transmits weather data without human intervention. Afaese also confirmed that there are no tide gauges installed at Apolima and Manono. A tide gauge measures water levels continuously, providing data that helps with navigation, engineering, and protecting coastal habitats.

Currently, there are no tide gauges installed at Manono or Apolima. “The only operational tide gauge for Samoa is located at Apia, Matautu Wharf, which serves as the official sea-level monitoring station,” he said.

While Apia’s Matautu Wharf tide gauge remains the only official sea-level monitoring station, the ministry said it is working to expand monitoring infrastructure to improve tracking of climate risks, particularly for outlying islands.

“There are ongoing initiatives to install additional tide gauges across Samoa. At present, the Apia tide gauge provides a representative measure of sea-level conditions for the country.”

The Meteorology Division also uses satellite and other remote sensing technologies to monitor weather and ocean conditions. Observations from weather stations and rainfall gauges inform numerical weather prediction models, enabling the forecast and preparation for extreme events.

"Our specially trained staff analyse these observations to produce accurate forecasts, enabling Samoa to anticipate future weather events and respond effectively," Afaese said.

“The meteorological and oceanographic environment in Samoa is carefully monitored using a range of scientifically rigorous techniques,” Afaese said. “We have installed weather stations and rainfall observation stations across the country that collect real-time data. These observations feed into numerical weather prediction models, which are built upon well-established physical equations and scientific principles.”