The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued warnings that areas south of the equator, predominantly across Java and Nusa Tenggara islands, which include Jakarta and its surroundings, would be exposed to hot temperatures until Sunday.

The agency’s meteorological stations on Java and Nusa Tenggara recorded temperatures ranging from 35 to 36.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, the intense heat that spread across the capital on Monday was measured at 36.5 degrees during the day despite strong winds. The temperature was estimated to be 35 degrees on Tuesday.

The BMKG reported that the high temperatures occurred because of the apparent motion of the sun. In September, the sun was directly over the equator but as the Earth's northern hemisphere tilted away from the center of the solar system, the sun appeared to move directly over areas of the southern hemisphere.

However, the agency stated, the Earth's motion was a normal cycle that repeated annually, so such high temperatures should be expected every year at the same time.

“It causes more solar radiation to be received by the Earth’s surface in regions south of the equator, so that the air temperatures will increase during the day,” BMKG’s weather forecast and early warning division head, Miming Saepudin, said in a written statement on Tuesday.

“In the last two days, the atmosphere in the southern part of Indonesia has been relatively dry, so it has hindered the growth of clouds that can function to block the scorching heat of the sun.”

Meteorological stations across the country recorded an average maximum air temperature of 37 degrees in the days since Oct. 19.

Even worse, three stations on Sulawesi recorded the higher maximum temperatures on Oct. 20. The Hasanuddin Meteorological Station in Makassar recorded 38.8 degrees, followed by the Maros Climatology Station with 38.3 degrees and the Sangia Ni Bandera Meteorological Station with 37.8 degrees.

The highest temperature recorded in the same area at the same period in October 2018 was 37 degrees .

Miming added that the heat could continue throughout the whole week with strong winds also likely to hit the areas during the day.

Based on BMKG observations, strong winds can be caused by significant differences in air pressure north and the south of the equator.

“At the same time, significant surface warming can lead to increasing pressure differences between high and low altitudes, which may also cause the winds to become relatively stronger,” Miming said.

While dealing with hot temperatures, the BMKG urges citizens in the affected areas to consume more water and stay hydrated during their daily activities.

“The BMKG also urges people affected by the hot temperature to wear proper clothing that can protect their skin from the sun when going outdoors,” Miming said.

Ricky Fernandus, 25, complained about the hot weather, saying that during the lunch break at his office on Monday, he and his colleagues were uncomfortable under the blistering sun when they tried to go outside and they chose to order their food online instead.

“When I got home, I had to quickly open the bedroom window upstairs because the heat was trapped inside like an oven,” said the resident of Jelambar, West Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Vivi Chen, a private employee in South Jakarta, was more optimistic, saying that people could never regulate the weather and now it all depended on how they devised their own activities outside to stay healthy.

“I can’t tell the difference. Jakarta has always been hot. Maybe such conditions are meant to remind us of how dependent we are on nature,” said the 23-year-old.

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