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Agency warns extreme weather until April
The BMKG has predicted that extreme weather in the country could last until April, with rain fall expected to increase by 20 percent due to La Niña phenomenon.
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People take refuge in a government-run shelter in Jombang, East Java, on Dec. 11, 2024 after floods inundated their houses. (Antara/Syaiful Arif)
T
he Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted that extreme weather in the country could last until April, with rainfall expected to increase by 20 percent due to La Niña weather phenomenon.
Agency chief Dwikorita Karnawati said that the dynamics in the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), which is a major tropical weather system, and a cold surge from mainland Asia to the western part of Indonesia could increase rainfall intensity and volume across the archipelago.
“Such conditions during the rainy season increase risks of hydrometeorological disasters,” Dwikorita said in a statement on Saturday.
The agency chief asked the public to keep an eye on weather predictions especially during the Christmas and New Year holiday season, which will see increased mobility by people.
BMKG meteorology deputy Guswanto said that among the regions in the archipelago, areas in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan and Sulawesi had a higher risk of heavy rain, which may cause floods and landslides.
Guswanto also warned against increased risk in areas along rivers near recently active volcanoes, which may see lahar flows.
Lahar flows are moving fluid masses composed of debris and water that occur when rainwater mixes with volcanic materials from a volcanic eruption. These volcanic materials can include sand, ash and rocks, which may also mix with wood or trees. Lahar can threaten lives, engulf settlements and carry large rocks down rivers.
