Indonesia is currently experiencing notably higher temperatures in several regions, a phenomenon the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) attributes to the sun’s present shift to the southern hemisphere relative to the archipelago. This astronomical alignment significantly influences local weather patterns, leading to warmer conditions.
During an event on forest and land fire control held in Jakarta on Monday, Guswanto, Deputy for Meteorology at BMKG, elaborated on this trend. He noted that while the ideal maximum temperature for urban areas typically ranges between 31 and 34 degrees Celsius, current readings often surpass this. The primary reason for the increased heat, he reaffirmed, is the sun’s current position, which has moved to the south of Indonesia.
This southward shift of the sun has a significant meteorological consequence: it leads to a scarcity of rain cloud formation in Indonesia’s southern regions. With fewer clouds to block incoming solar radiation, sunlight reaches the surface directly and intensely. This direct exposure is precisely why temperatures feel exceptionally hot across many parts of the country.
Despite the current heat, Indonesia officially entered its rainy season back in August, Guswanto clarified. However, due to the nation’s vast geographical expanse, the onset and peak of the rainy season are not experienced uniformly across all regions simultaneously. Different areas transition at different times, reflecting the country’s diverse climate zones.
According to BMKG’s forecasts, by November, nearly all areas of Indonesia are expected to be fully immersed in the rainy season. The agency also projects a potential for extreme weather in several regions over the coming week, specifically mentioning North Sumatra and central Java. The rainy season is anticipated to reach its nationwide synchronous peak during December, January, and February, ensuring widespread precipitation.
These explanations come on the heels of recent high-temperature observations. BMKG’s prior forecasts for Monday, October 13th, showed several cities recording temperatures ranging from 27 to 35 degrees Celsius. Notably, areas such as Serang, Semarang, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya experienced particularly elevated temperatures, hitting between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius.
Summary
Indonesia is currently experiencing higher temperatures in several regions, which the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) attributes to the sun’s shift to the southern hemisphere. This astronomical change reduces rain cloud formation in southern areas, allowing direct and intense solar radiation to cause temperatures to frequently surpass the typical maximum of 31-34 degrees Celsius.
Despite the ongoing heat, Indonesia officially entered its rainy season in August, though its timing and intensity vary across the country’s diverse regions. BMKG forecasts that by November, most of Indonesia will be fully immersed in the rainy season, with a nationwide peak expected from December to February. Additionally, extreme weather is anticipated in areas like North Sumatra and Central Java in the coming week, following recent observations of temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius in several cities.