4 Active
Orange Warning:Heavy Rain Warning — Upolu & Savai'iYellow Advisory:Strong Wind Advisory — Coastal waters of SamoaInformation:Tropical Disturbance TD03F — North-west of SamoaYellow Advisory:Drought Watch — Savai'i — Satupa'itea & PalauliOrange Warning:Heavy Rain Warning — Upolu & Savai'iYellow Advisory:Strong Wind Advisory — Coastal waters of SamoaInformation:Tropical Disturbance TD03F — North-west of SamoaYellow Advisory:Drought Watch — Savai'i — Satupa'itea & Palauli
Samoa Meteorological ServiceTautai o le Tau · MNRE

Poto Fa'aleaganu'u

Traditional knowledge indicators

Generations of Samoan observation of plants, animals, sea and sky — documented with village elders and read alongside scientific forecasts.

Plants

Flowering of the mango tree (Mago)

Fuga o le mago

Heavy flowering signals a likely cyclone season ahead.

Strongly aligned with SMS observations

Animals

Sea birds flying inland (Tava'esina)

Lele i uta manu o le sami

Birds seeking shelter inland indicate an approaching storm.

Aligned

Insects

Ants moving eggs to higher ground

Siitia e loi o latou fua

Heavy rain expected within days.

Aligned

Sky

Halo around the moon (Lagi Lolo)

Ua siosiomia le masina

Rain or strong winds within one to two days.

Partially aligned

Plants

Abundant breadfruit harvest (Ulu)

Fua tele o le ulu

Elders associate an abundant breadfruit season with a hot, dry period.

Under study

Ocean

Palolo rising (Tataliga o le Palolo)

Aso o le Palolo

Marks the seasonal calendar — rising in October/November with the moon cycle.

Seasonal marker

Share an indicator from your village

SMS is building a national register of traditional indicators. Matai, elders and community members can contribute through the feedback form or at a district fono.