Samoa’s Meteorological Office has urged the public to take extra precaution over the next few days as the country continues to experience frequent rainfall.  

Acting Assistant Chief Executive of the Samoa Meteorological Service, Tumau Neru, said this to the Samoa Observer yesterday as the country enters its cyclone season, which falls on November-January.  

Ms. Neru said a trough of low pressure is lying over Samoa at the moment, which is causing the continuous rainfall and occasional thunderstorms (see weather update).         

“There is heavy rain warning in effect for the southern areas at the moment and flooding and landslides are possible for vulnerable areas,” Ms. Neru said. 

The areas experiencing heavy rainfalls are the districts of Aleipata Safata, Siumu and Lefaga in Upolu and the district of Palauli-Lata-Neiafu in Savaii

Ms. Neru said so far there have been no reports of flooding or landslides, but the public should take note of the warnings from the authorities. For tropical cyclone warning, the Met office will issue a cyclone forecast this Friday. 

“The tropical outlook gives us an idea of how many cyclones that we could be expecting in the season. The possibilities, whether we are at high risks or low risks in the season (of) cyclone, but until the outlook is finalised we cannot say anything at the moment.” 

Nonetheless Ms. Neru appealed to the public to heed the weather warnings.