El Niño Advisory Oceanic Niño Index +2.46 °C · very strong NOAA, 12 November 2026 Next update 10 December 2026
How's the Climate
Six-month climate outlook

American Samoa

Odds favour a drier-than-normal December–February in American Samoa (94% chance). Past El Niño years show no consistent rainfall pattern here.

Rainfall, Dec–Feb

Likely drier

94% drier · 6% normal · <5% wetter

Temperature, Dec–Feb

Likely warmer

>95% chance of warmer than 1993–2016

Past El Niños, same season

No clear pattern

-6% rainfall on average, 1979-2025

Air quality, next days

62 Moderate

Worst day: Pago Pago, 16 November 2026

Happening now

Current events in American Samoa

World map

No current flood, drought, cyclone, large wildfire or unhealthy-air event is listed for American Samoa in our sources.

Climate news

Headlines about American Samoa

All news

No climate headlines mentioning American Samoa were found in the last two weeks.

Found through the GDELT Project by climate words in the headline. We do not write or check these articles.

Seasonal outlook

The next six months

Odds of each outcome compared with the 1993–2016 average.

December–February

RainfallLikely drier
TemperatureLikely warmer

February–April

RainfallLikely drier
TemperatureLikely warmer

In the tropics, seasonal forecasts generally have useful skill during strong El Niño years, but they give odds, not certainties. “Normal” is the middle third of the model's own 1993–2016 range. Because the climate has warmed since then, “warmer” is the usual result almost everywhere.

Source: Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) seasonal forecasts, ECMWF system 51, country average. Method

Emissions and energy

What American Samoa emits, and how it makes electricity

Rankings

Electricity by source, 2024

  • Other fossil 94%
  • Solar 6%

Source: Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Project, Ember and the Energy Institute (CC BY 4.0). CO2 from fossil fuels and industry; land use not included.

Air quality

Smoke and haze, next 4 days

Daily average fine particles (PM2.5) on the US EPA air-quality index.

62ModerateHighest forecast: Pago Pago, 16 November 2026 · PM2.5 15.1 µg/m³
Daily average PM2.5 and US EPA air-quality category by city
CityNov 15Nov 16Nov 17Nov 18
Pago Pago 59Moderate62Moderate60Moderate53Moderate

AQI: US EPA 24-hour PM2.5 scale (2024). Model forecast for an area of about 40 km, not a local measurement. Local levels can be higher or lower. Dates are UTC days. Source: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, run 2026-11-14 00 UTC.

El Niño 2026–27

What past El Niños did here

Each season in El Niño years compared with all other years, 1979-2025, trend removed.

SeasonRainfallRainfall detailTemperature
Dec–Feb No consistent pattern (about 6% less rain on average) +0.4 °C
Jan–Mar No consistent pattern (about 13% less rain on average) +0.4 °C
Feb–Apr No consistent pattern (about 10% less rain on average) +0.3 °C
Mar–May No consistent pattern (about 10% less rain on average) +0.1 °C
Apr–Jun Drier in 7 of 8 El Niño seasons (about 12% less rain on average) -0.1 °C
May–Jul No consistent pattern (about 10% less rain on average) +0.0 °C
Jun–Aug No consistent pattern (about 13% less rain on average) -0.0 °C
Jul–Sep Drier in 8 of 9 El Niño seasons (about 27% less rain on average) -0.0 °C
Aug–Oct No consistent pattern (about 21% less rain on average) -0.1 °C
Sep–Nov Drier in 12 of 15 El Niño seasons (about 23% less rain on average) -0.0 °C
Oct–Dec No consistent pattern (about 10% less rain on average) +0.1 °C
Nov–Jan No consistent pattern (about 7% less rain on average) +0.3 °C

Bars: brown is drier, teal is wetter; full width is ±100%. Source: ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus Climate Change Service); El Niño seasons from NOAA's Oceanic Niño Index. Method

Be prepared

What you can do

If it turns out drier

  • Follow water-use notices from your local water utility, and fix leaks early.
  • Farmers: check planting advice and drought bulletins from the national agriculture and weather services before the season.
  • Clear dry vegetation near homes where wildfires are possible, and know your local fire-danger rating.
  • Keep a few days of drinking water stored if supply cuts have happened in past dry years.

If it turns out hotter

  • Check on older relatives, neighbours and anyone who lives alone during hot spells.
  • Drink water regularly, and avoid hard outdoor work in the hottest hours.
  • Know the signs of heat exhaustion (dizziness, headache, nausea) and when to get medical help.
Sources

Data and citation

  • El Niño status: NOAA Climate Prediction Center, 12 November 2026.
  • Seasonal outlook: Copernicus Climate Change Service, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) seasonal forecasts, ECMWF system 51, issued November 2026.
  • Air quality: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, run 2026-11-14 00 UTC.
  • Past El Niños: ERA5 (Copernicus Climate Change Service), 1979-2025; NOAA Oceanic Niño Index.

Cite as: “Seasonal outlook for American Samoa”, How's the Climate, https://howstheclimate.org/country/american-samoa/, updated 15 November 2026.

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