The Samoa Meteorology Division has issued a heavy rain warning as well as a flood advisory as pre-polling in the 2021 General Election gets underway on both Upolu and Savai’i.

The fine weather on Monday, which was a public holiday as part of the Easter long weekend, saw over 2,000 voters converge on the different polling stations on both Upolu and Savai’i to exercise their democratic rights on the first day of pre-polling.

However, the Meteorology Division issued a heavy rain warning and a flood advisory at 5pm on Monday, and attributed the bad weather to an active low pressure system that is within the vicinity of the Samoan islands.

“An active trough of low pressure remains within the vicinity of the islands with associated deep convective clouds  seen moving towards the islands from the west and north,” stated the Meteorology Division’s weather update.

“The movement of these convective rain bands will bring heavy rainfall and thunderstorms with gusty winds for the islands for tonight (Monday) through (to) Wednesday. 

“Hence, the upgrading of the heavy rain warning and flood advisory for possible overflow of river banks from continuous heavy  falls associated with the system. 

“If conditions remain the flood advisory may upgrade into a warning in the next 6-12 hours.”

The bad weather projections could throw the spanner in the works of preparations by voters, who have registered for pre-polling in this year’s general election, to go to the polling stations on Tuesday. 

According to the Meteorology Division, their projections on potential impact are heavy downpours with poor visibility, gusty winds, foggy and slippery roads over mountain passes and ranges as well as pooling near roadsides and waterways.

The pre-polling opens 9am and closes 4pm from Monday to Thursday before the general election proper this Friday. 

Voters who are categorised as being part of the essential services workforce, are living with disabilities, who travel before the 9 April election, or are aged 65 years and over and have registered with the Office of Electoral Commission can go for pre-polling.