Jakarta, IO – The prediction by climate researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency’s (BRIN) Center for Climate and Atmospheric Research Erma Yulihastin that a massive storm would hit Greater Jakarta on Wednesday (28/12), was not proven despite having caused public panic. It has been ridiculed by the Indonesian netizens who initially amplified the warning.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency head Dwikorita said the phenomenon that occurred near the end of the year was extreme rain, not storms.
Dwikorita explained that “hurricane” is related to a tropical cyclone with a strong vortex, accompanied by heavy rain. However, the storm has the potential to move away from Greater Jakarta toward northern Papua, reported CNN Indonesia.
According to Dwikorita, the tropical cyclone had actually started to form since December 21 and is likely to shift to the southwestern part of Indonesia, away from Greater Jakarta. She also stated that extreme rain does not have to be in the form of a storm.