Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — High temperatures have continued to blanket parts of Indonesia over the past few days, despite the onset of what should be the rainy season. The country’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) record the Highest temperature reached over 38 degrees celcius.
BMKG recently issued warnings advising citizens in several regions to remain vigilant against the effects of extreme heat, which has pushed temperatures to scorching levels of up to 37–38.4 degrees Celsius in some areas.
The intense heat is affecting not only daytime hours but also nighttime, leaving residents across Indonesia feeling a relentless warmth. Temperatures have reached over 37 degrees Celsius in multiple regions, with several areas recording spikes above this mark.
Meteorological data recorded by BMKG shows that as of Monday, October 28, the hottest region was Larantuka in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, where temperatures soared to 38.4 degrees Celsius, intensifying concerns about delayed rainfall.
In the few days, areas such as Majalengka in West Java and Semarang in Central Java saw temperatures exceed 37 degrees Celsius. In East Java, the heat wave has been particularly severe, with Pasuruan registering 37.9°C, Jombang 37.8°C, Bojonegoro 37.5°C, and Surabaya 37.5°C, where the midday sun has created conditions reminiscent of desert heat.
The BMKG forecasts that this high-temperature spell will persist through late October due to the expected delay in the onset of the rainy season in 2024.
Late Arrival of the Rainy Season
The delayed onset of the rainy season has sparked questions among experts and citizens alike. According to climatologist Erma Yulihastin of Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), certain regions of the country, particularly in southern areas, may indeed experience a later-than-usual start to the rainy season.
Yulihastin explains that the primary factor influencing this delay is the increased activity of tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean near Japan and the Philippines.
“The high frequency of tropical cyclones in the Pacific, especially near Japan and the Philippines throughout October, has shifted convection activities further north. This concentration of winds in the northern hemisphere has disrupted the southern flow of the Asian monsoon, weakening it,” she said in a statement as reported by CNN Indonesia on Tuesday, October 29. “This disruption is what’s causing the delayed start of the rainy season in general.”
Based on data from KAMAJAYA-BRIN, the dry conditions resulting from these northern hemisphere cyclones are expected to persist into early November 2024. According to Yulihastin, monsoonal rains across Indonesia are now expected to begin in early December 2024.
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However, she added that there may be an increase in rainfall during the second week of November, particularly in western Indonesia, due to the formation of a vortex over the Indian Ocean.
The areas likely to experience heightened rainfall during this period include parts of Sumatra, especially the western coastline, and western and central regions of Java.
As the country awaits the seasonal rains, which provide critical relief for the rising temperatures and water resources issues, the prolonged heat has underscored the vulnerability of Indonesian regions to climate-related anomalies, sparking concern over deepening climate crisis.
(Raidi/Agung)
