The islands of Upolu and Savai’i were drenched by torrential rain overnight with the Samoa Meteorological Service advising early this morning that their warning for Tropical Cyclone Wasi remains in effect.

Residents and villagers living within the vicinity of the capital Apia were still shopping at major supermarkets at 9pm Saturday (local time), in preparation for the storm which the MET projected would be south of the Samoan islands 2am Sunday morning.

But rain drenching the islands was the only evidence of TC Wasi being in the neighbourhood with residents in Savai’i also saying they only experienced heavy downpours overnight.

A special weather bulletin (Number 4) released by MET at 5am Sunday (local time) stated that Tropical Cyclone Warning Category 1 remains in effect for all of Samoa. See below details of the bulletin.

SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN NUMBER FOUR (4) FOR SAMOA

ISSUED BY SAMOA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AT 221500 UTC OR 5.00 AM

SUNDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2020.

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CATEGORY 1 (63-87kph) REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SAMOA.

HEAVY RAIN WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SAMOA; LANDSLIDE IS POSSIBLE FOR VULNERABLE AREAS.   

FLOOD WARNING REMAINS FOR ALL MAJOR RIVERS AND VULNERABLE AREAS

COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS EFFECTIVE FOR LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS DUE TO HIGH SURF.

Tropical Cyclone WASI Category 1 was located at 14.3South, 172.3West or at about 62 km (33nm) South Southeast of Taga or 79 km (43nm) Southwest of Apia at 221400 UTC or 04:00 am early this morning. The system is moving southeast at a speed of 10km/hr. Winds close to the center of Tropical Cyclone Wasi is around 83kph.

If TC Wasi continues on its projected track it will relocate at about 121km (66nm) south of  Tafitoala or 147 km (79nm) south of Apia at 11.00 am today.

Today: Periods of rain with heavy falls and few thunderstorms. Northwesterly winds of 63-87 kph, gusty at times. Combine waves and swells of 2-4m.

Tomorrow: Isolated showers. Northwesterly winds of 35-45 kph. Combine waves and swells of 1.5-2.5m.

Potential Impacts: Heavy downpours with poor visibility, strong and gusty winds with flying objects, foggy and slippery roads over mountain passes and ranges, strong river outflow and landslides, pooling near roadsides and waterways. Strong currents as well as rough seas and coastal inundation. Uproot breakable trees.

The next Special Weather Bulletin will be issued at 11am Sunday (local time)