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1-minute GOES-18 imagery to monitor Flash Flooding potential across American Samoa

By Scott Bachmeier •

1-minute GOES-18 Clean Infrared Window (10.3 µm) images, from 0300-2300 UTC on 9th January [click to play MP4 animation]

1-minute Mesoscale Domain Sector GOES-18 (GOES-West) Clean Infrared Window (10.3 µm) images (above) displayed areas of deep convection that moved near and over the American Samoa island of Tutuila (where Pago Pago NSTU is located) on 9th January 2025 — which produced periods of moderate to heavy rainfall (leading to flash flooding and landslides, prompting the issuance of Flash Flood Warnings), strong winds (gusting 45 mph at Pago Pago, which led to flight cancellations) and power outages across parts of the islands. The coldest cloud-top infrared brightness temperatures were around -80 to -85ºC (shades of white embedded within dark black regions).

These thunderstorms and strong wind developed as Tropical Disturbance TD04F was located southwest of American Samoa (Fiji Meteorological Service surface analyses: 0300 UTC  | 1230 UTC | 2100 UTC), in addition to the South Pacific Convergence Zone being oriented NW to SE across the Samoan Islands.

Categories: GOES-18, Heavy rain / flooding