Jakarta—The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reminds the public to be aware of extreme drought conditions that have hit several parts of Indonesia due to prolonged days without rain. Some areas have experienced drought for more than 60 days.
“Several regions, including West Java, East Java, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), are experiencing extremely long days without rain categories, even more than 60 days without rain. This indicates a serious drought that can impact water resources and public health,” said Andri Ramdhani, Head of BMKG’s Public Meteorology Center, in an official statement Wednesday, October 30.
BMKG’s temperature monitoring from October 28 to October 29 showed that the highest temperature reached 38.3 degrees Celsius at Gawayantana Meteorological Station, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Similar conditions were also reported in other regions, such as Sumbawa, NTB, which recorded a maximum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, the lowest maximum temperatures were recorded in Lampung and Makassar, with temperatures reaching 34.4 degrees Celsius.
“This condition is predicted to persist, especially in the Java to NTT regions experiencing a hot and dry summer. BMKG continues to monitor atmospheric dynamics changes that can affect the region’s temperature patterns,” Andri explained.
According to BMKG, high-temperature conditions in Indonesia are also influenced by Tropical Cyclone Rey, which is active in the Pacific Ocean. This cyclone pulls moisture from the surrounding areas, including Java, to NTT, causing less moisture in the region, thus increasing the air temperature.
“Tropical Cyclone Kong-rey affects Indonesian weather by pulling moisture from Java to the NTT region. This creates drier air, so temperatures in these regions rise. The cyclone is expected to weaken in the next few days, but its effect on temperature and humidity could persist,” he added.
In addition to the extreme heat, BMKG revealed that some areas experienced the longest HTH period, reaching more than 60 days. Regions such as East Java and NTB were even recorded to have HTH of up to 179 days in Probolinggo. This condition raises concerns about serious impacts on the area’s water resources and food security.
“The longest HTH currently occurs in Pakistaji and Probolinggo, East Java, for 179 days without rain. Areas that experience this extreme HTH face the risk of drought, which has the potential to impact agriculture and water sources for the population,” BMKG explained in its report released on October 23, 2024.
Health advisory for the public
BMKG urges the public to be aware of the impact of this hot weather, especially for people living in areas experiencing extreme drought. Andri Ramdhani also advised the public to maintain their health by avoiding outdoor activities during the day and ensuring their bodies stay hydrated.
“We urge the public to pay attention to fluid intake and avoid direct sunlight exposure, especially during the day. We also recommend that people monitor information and warnings from BMKG regarding extreme weather conditions that may occur,” said Andri.
BMKG also noted the potential for extreme weather in the seasonal transition period, such as moderate to heavy rain, hail, and tornadoes, which may occur from afternoon to evening. This extreme weather is expected to be the beginning of rainfall that has begun to hit several regions. (Hartatik)
