IO – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika – “BMKG”) has issued an alert that weather-related disasters may occur during the transition from the dry season to the rainy season, including heavy rainfalls and thunderstorms, in several regions. Possible affected areas include the northern regions of Sumatra, the coasts of Sumatra (especially the northern to western coastline), the northern region of Central Kalimantan, and part of West Kalimantan. Please be alert for potential high rainfall in the northern regions of Sulawesi, in Maluku, North Maluku, Papua, and the central regions of Papua. “This is what we all need to be wary of during September,” said Miming Saepudin, BMKG’s Head of Weather Prediction and Early Warning, in a joint virtual press conference with the Indonesian National Board of Disaster Management (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana – “BNPB”) held in Jakarta on Monday (31/08/2020).
Initial signs of seasonal change include medium- to high-intensity rain with short duration in several regions, as well as extreme weather swings from sunny heat to sodden rain. “Other characteristics of the transitional season include potential extreme short-duration weather patterns,” Miming said. “BMKG predicts that after the start in September, the peak of the transitional season will occur in October. If you have outdoor activities, make sure you pay proper attention to weather predictions.”
Miming further stated that we still need to be alert to potential meteorological drought in some regions in Indonesia in September. Even though the peak of the dry season has passed in August, long rainless days might still occur in some parts of East Java, Madura, and Bali. Other regions that must be alert of potential drought include most of West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara. “According to previous data, we are going to face more rainless days ahead,” he said.
Meanwhile, BMKG Forecaster in the Kertajati Meteorological Station Ahmad Faa Izyn states that the peak of the dry season in the Regency of Cirebon and surrounding areas will occur in September 2020. “It has been going on from June. We predict that the peak of the dry season will be in August-September, with a potential of drought in Cirebon. Updated data per 31 August 2020 shows that in West Java, the Regency of Karawang endured a lack of rain for 31-60 days, with temperatures ranging from 35.6o C to 38o C,” he said.
Ahmad further urges people to be more aware of the impact of the prolonged dry season, such as the reduction of water available from ordinary sources, a clean water crisis, increased potential of harvest failure for some crops, etc. “This might have wide-ranging repercussions, as the dry season is expected to last quite a while yet,” he said. (dan)