A lot of rain in Samoa in late March

carmerb16:27 UTC03 Jul 2011

Hi,

I'm planning a round the world trip and I was thinking to come to Samoa in late March. Is it worth? Does it rain all the time or only for a little while during the day?

Thanks
Carme

wksamoa10:59 UTC04 Jul 2011

Of course nobody can be sure when it comes to how the weather will be. But as far as I remember we did not have a single day raining all the time this year, and that includes all March as well. I do not think that you will have to worry at all. Officially it still is rainy season in March, but most of the rainfall usually happens in January. You will rather have days without raining at all in March.

carmerb13:38 UTC04 Jul 2011

Thanks a lot!

calumet19:07 UTC07 Jul 2011

March is still hurricane season. Which means, ironically, less rain. Here's the funny thing, if you are on the north shore of an island, where Apia is on Upolu, the no rain weather is hot, dusty and muggy. if you are on the south side of the island (windward) such as Pago Pago on Tutuila the weather is cool and breezy.

This is because the tradewinds blow from south to north.

Hurricanes are rare but winter storms tend to keep the windward side of the islands much cooler. Hint; stay out of Apia and spend time on Upolu's south shore or just head over to Tutuila where its much cooler all the time.

wksamoa20:32 UTC07 Jul 2011

Well, these are widespread 'in general' observations referring to windward and leeward sides of an island. Valid mostly for bigger islands like H.awaii though. I spent all March in Apia and did not find it any different from the other side of the island nor from Pago. In general trade winds have the cited effect, but Mount Rainmaker in Pago spoils it all.

Weather observation data confirms my personal impression:

Pago
Average Temperature: 27 degree C
Max. temperature: 31, Min. temperature: 23 degree C
Precipitation: 320 mm
Number of wet days (>0.1mm): 23

Apia
Average Temperature: 27 degree C
Max. temperature: 30, Min. temperature: 23 degree C
Precipitation: 358 mm
Number of wet days (>0.1mm): 19

So there are more wet days in Pago, with a little less amount of overall rainfall though, and a higher maximum temperature in Pago as well.

I would not call that 'much cooler all the time' ;-)

A lot of rain in Samoa in late March? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Samoa
carmerb16:27 UTC03 Jul 2011	Hi, I'm planning a round the world trip and I was thinking to come to Samoa in late March. Is it worth? Does it rain all the time or only for a little while during the day? Thanks Carme
wksamoa10:59 UTC04 Jul 2011	Of course nobody can be sure when it comes to how the weather will be. But as far as I remember we did not have a single day raining all the time this year, and that includes all March as well. I do not think that you will have to worry at all. Officially it still is rainy season in March, but most of the rainfall usually happens in January. You will rather have days without raining at all in March.	1
carmerb13:38 UTC04 Jul 2011	Thanks a lot!	2
calumet19:07 UTC07 Jul 2011	March is still hurricane season. Which means, ironically, less rain. Here's the funny thing, if you are on the north shore of an island, where Apia is on Upolu, the no rain weather is hot, dusty and muggy. if you are on the south side of the island (windward) such as Pago Pago on Tutuila the weather is cool and breezy. This is because the tradewinds blow from south to north. Hurricanes are rare but winter storms tend to keep the windward side of the islands much cooler. Hint; stay out of Apia and spend time on Upolu's south shore or just head over to Tutuila where its much cooler all the time. JW	3
wksamoa20:32 UTC07 Jul 2011	Well, these are widespread 'in general' observations referring to windward and leeward sides of an island. Valid mostly for bigger islands like H.awaii though. I spent all March in Apia and did not find it any different from the other side of the island nor from Pago. In general trade winds have the cited effect, but Mount Rainmaker in Pago spoils it all. Weather observation data confirms my personal impression: Pago Average Temperature: 27 degree C Max. temperature: 31, Min. temperature: 23 degree C Precipitation: 320 mm Number of wet days (>0.1mm): 23 Apia Average Temperature: 27 degree C Max. temperature: 30, Min. temperature: 23 degree C Precipitation: 358 mm Number of wet days (>0.1mm): 19 So there are more wet days in Pago, with a little less amount of overall rainfall though, and a higher maximum temperature in Pago as well. I would not call that 'much cooler all the time' ;-)	4

A lot of rain in Samoa in late March?