Meteorologists from Samoa, Tokelau and Tonga have joined local meteorologists and staff of the National Weather Service in a two week training course on weather forecasting at the Weather Office in Tafuna.
The training, conducted by the Pacific Island Training Desk NOAA/NWS Pacific Region Headquarters, University of Hawaii is the first in country training program in American Samoa for weather observers from Pacific Island Countries.
It will focus on basic weather forecasts and analysis with an emphasis on the tropics.
It will also cover operational forecasting to enable weather observers to prepare and disseminate locally produced climate products for their home countries.
Gingerlei Porter, Associate Director of the Pacific Desk at the University of Hwaii said, “Regional collaboration is crucial to better prepare our communities and reduce 
impacts that endanger lives, infrastructure, economy and the environment.”
Collaboration was also stressed by Lt Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga when he spoke about the importance of weather forecasters from Samoa and American Samoa understanding each other’s weather systems.
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