Swains Island, American Samoa
Storm and disaster record · FIPS 60040
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 50 records for Swains Island, American Samoa from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 50 days; the most frequent are rip current and surf records (26 records). 50 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the December 28, 2015 rip current, filed for the forecast zone Manu'a, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1966, 12 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tropical Storm Gita” on March 2, 2018.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 50on 50 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 12 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $17Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 2020
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Swains Island most?
The most frequent records are rip current and surf records: 26 since 1999. Census land area gives no figure for Swains Island under this code, so it carries no per-area rank.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip currents and high surf | 26 | 26 | 1999-2024 | 1 | 2 | $1.1M | – |
| High wind and dust storms | 9 | 9 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | $405K | – |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 9 | 9 | 1998-2016 | 0 | 0 | $15M | – |
| Drought | 4 | 4 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Floods | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | $29K | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Swains Island?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 19, 2025 high wind ($250,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A resident of Ofu shared a video showing sheet metal damage to fences and roofs due to high wind gusts. Sheet metal from multiple properties are seen flying across the village.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1231304)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-19 | High WindSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| 2021-07-03 | High SurfSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2015-12-28 | Rip CurrentSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-02-15 | High SurfSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 0 | 2 | $15K | |
| 2005-02-14 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Swains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 0 | 0 | $15M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-12-28 | Rip CurrentSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a The Department of Public Safety dispatcher confirmed a drowning incident of a male fisherman in his early 30s on December 28th. The victim was swept to sea and his boy has not been recovered. Strong swells and hazardous seas have prevented the Search and Rescue team from conducting their services to find the missing ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-02-15 | High SurfSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a A 68-foot vessel was afloat within 50 miles north of Manu'a, "disabled with no steering wheel but had power." The crew member were not injured by high swells generated by Hurricane Olaf. The Associated Press reported a vessel sank on February 16th in "50-foot waves and 120 mph winds about 95 miles north of American ... | 0 | 2 | $15K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-02-14 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Swains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 2021-07-03 | High SurfSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2025-02-19 | High WindSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| 2005-02-15 | High SurfSwains Island · forecast zone Manu'a | 0 | 2 | $15K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Swains Island's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip currents and high surf | – | – | – | – | 3 | 14 | 7 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Swains Island. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 8 · Feb 9 · Mar 3 · Apr 5 · May 2 · Jun 3 · Jul 5 · Aug 4 · Sep 2 · Oct 4 · Nov 2 · Dec 3 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Swains Island
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Swains Island: 12 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (5) and typhoon (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-17 | DR-4537 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3465 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-03-02 | DR-4357 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Gita |
| 2018-02-11 | EM-3397 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Gita |
| 2014-09-10 | DR-4192 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2009-09-29 | DR-1859 | Earthquake | Earthquake,Tsunami, and Flooding |
| 2005-02-18 | DR-1582 | Typhoon | Tc Olaf, Includ. High Winds and Surf and Heavy Rainfall |
| 1991-12-13 | DR-927 | Hurricane | Hurricane Val |
| 1990-02-09 | DR-855 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ofa |
| 1987-01-24 | DR-785 | Hurricane | Hurricane Tusi |
| 1981-03-24 | DR-637 | Typhoon | Typhoon Esau |
| 1979-11-09 | DR-610 | Flood | Flooding, Mudslides & Landslides |
| 1974-09-30 | DR-449 | Drought | Drought |
| 1966-02-10 | DR-213 | Typhoon | Typhoon & High Tides |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- Rip currents and high surf in American SamoaThe state's rip current and surf records, by county, year and month
- The American Samoa recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- Download Swains Island's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis