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Jakarta to see medium rain but remain hot during equinox
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An aerial view of the Pluit area in North Jakarta on Jan. 18, 2014. Jakarta will see light to medium rain for the next three days in the late afternoon and or at night, accompanied with thunder as well as strong winds, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecast on Tuesday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
T
he Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast that Jakarta will see light to medium rain for the next three days in the late afternoon and or at night, accompanied with thunder as well as strong winds.
Despite the potential of rainfall pouring into the city, the weather remains hot with temperatures expected to reach up to 33 degrees Celsius.
“It is a transition from the wet to dry season. And on March 21 and 22, the sun's radiation is optimal and will cause the air temperature to feel slightly hotter than usual. We know it as an equinox,” BMKG spokesperson Harry Tirto said on Tuesday.
The equinox occurs twice in a year when the position of the sun is above the equator, resulting in rising temperatures on the earth's surface. However, the temperature will not exceed beyond 36 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, the transition from wet to dry season occurs from March to May. He added that since last week, Jakartans likely felt that the temperature was hotter than usual and it is projected to last for the next few weeks.
“Rain will not occur every day but when it does, it is going to be in the evening and night,” Harry said.
Bright sunlight and higher humidity in March will mean people will feel stiflingly hot, he added.
A security guard at Binus University in West Jakarta, Firmansyah, 31, agreed with BMKG, saying that he felt it was quite hot in the past week.
Assisting students and people to cross the road near the university, Firman said his skin felt tender because of the scorching sun.
“I wear long-sleeved clothes and pants but it is no use. It is uncomfortable especially at around 1 p.m. when the sun shines really bright. It is better at 3 p.m.,” Firman said. He usually works from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Firman added that the rain still hit the area but mostly at night.
Meanwhile, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver Hendri, 34, also said it was hotter in the last few days.
“Even at 9 a.m. I already feel hot. It’s uncomfortable,” Hendri said, adding that he started work between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
He added that he was usually caught in the rain at night, which sometimes stopped him from looking for passengers.
