Indonesia Braces for Extreme Weather: BMKG Issues Warnings for Rain, Lightning, and Strong Winds

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued an early warning of the potential for light to heavy rain that may be accompanied by lightning and strong winds in a number of regions of Indonesia on Monday, June 29. The public is asked to be aware of extreme weather, especially in several cities that have the potential to be hit by moderate to heavy rain. BMKG Praktirawan Sufia Nur Ahadiah explained that the potential for rain was triggered by the existence of a long-running convergence area in the western Indian Ocean of North Sumatra, from the western Indian Ocean of Lampung to the west of Bengkulu, on the east coast of East Kalimantan, and from Bone Bay to the southern Makassar Strait. "This condition increases the growth of rain clouds in the area where the convergence passes, so it has the potential to trigger rain accompanied by lightning and strong winds," said Sufia, quoted by Antara, Monday morning. BMKG predicts that moderate to heavy rain is potentially occurring in Pekanbaru (Riau), Tanjung Pinang (Kepulauan Riau), Padang (West Sumatra), Pontianak (West Kalimantan), and Mamuju (West Sulawesi). Meanwhile, light to moderate rain is expected to hit Banda Aceh, Medan, Jambi, Bengkulu, Palembang, Bandar Lampung, Tanjung Selor, Samarinda, Manado, Ambon, Manokwari, Jayapura, and Jayawijaya. A number of other major cities are expected to experience cloudy weather throughout the day, including Jakarta, Serang, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Pangkal Pinang, Palangka Raya, Banjarmasin, Denpasar, Mataram, Kupang, Makassar, Kendari, Palu, Gorontalo, Ternate, Sorong, and Merauke. BMKG appeals to the public, especially those in areas with the potential for heavy rain, to increase vigilance against the possibility of flooding, flooding, falling trees, and disruption of activities due to lightning and strong winds.