From Ambassador (The rainy season in Samoa)
2025/11/20
The rainy season in Samoa
The rainy season in the Independent State of Samoa lasts from November to April. During this period, rainfall increases and humidity rises, often leading to a hot and humid weather condition. However, even during the "rainy season," there are often many sunny periods during the day, with strong sunlight alternating with sudden thunderstorms and squalls. Unlike Japan, it's not a continuous, dreary drizzle.
Particularly from December to February, tropical depressions and cyclones can form, so it's crucial to exercise caution due to sudden changes in weather. When rain seems imminent, people in both Japan and Samoa instinctively look up at the sky, scrutinizing the cloud formations. Samoa's meteorological professionals also observe and analyze sky conditions recorded across the country, alongside near real-time satellite imagery of clouds. (Incidentally, the cloud images used here are sourced from Japan's Himawari meteorological satellite.)
The challenge is that maintaining these observation facilities requires a substantial budget. According to Afaese Luteru Tauvale, ACEO of the Office of the Meteorology Division – who, incidentally, earned his PhD from a Japanese university – only 8 or 9 out of the original 20 automatic observation stations are currently operational. While some facilities were established with assistance from Australia and the U.S., Japan has also contributed to others.
With meteorological disasters intensifying globally due to climate change, the development and maintenance of robust weather observation facilities have become a pressing concern here in Samoa.
(The photo of Afaese-san appeared in the November 13th edition of the Samoa Observer. The cloud photo was taken by Ambassador on November 19th.)
The rainy season in the Independent State of Samoa lasts from November to April. During this period, rainfall increases and humidity rises, often leading to a hot and humid weather condition. However, even during the "rainy season," there are often many sunny periods during the day, with strong sunlight alternating with sudden thunderstorms and squalls. Unlike Japan, it's not a continuous, dreary drizzle.
Particularly from December to February, tropical depressions and cyclones can form, so it's crucial to exercise caution due to sudden changes in weather. When rain seems imminent, people in both Japan and Samoa instinctively look up at the sky, scrutinizing the cloud formations. Samoa's meteorological professionals also observe and analyze sky conditions recorded across the country, alongside near real-time satellite imagery of clouds. (Incidentally, the cloud images used here are sourced from Japan's Himawari meteorological satellite.)
The challenge is that maintaining these observation facilities requires a substantial budget. According to Afaese Luteru Tauvale, ACEO of the Office of the Meteorology Division – who, incidentally, earned his PhD from a Japanese university – only 8 or 9 out of the original 20 automatic observation stations are currently operational. While some facilities were established with assistance from Australia and the U.S., Japan has also contributed to others.
With meteorological disasters intensifying globally due to climate change, the development and maintenance of robust weather observation facilities have become a pressing concern here in Samoa.
(The photo of Afaese-san appeared in the November 13th edition of the Samoa Observer. The cloud photo was taken by Ambassador on November 19th.)