BNPB spokesperson Raditya Jati said the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had predicted thunderstorms for several parts of the country.

"Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and lightning is expected in Aceh, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, North Maluku, Maluku, West Papua, Papua, West Sumatra, Riau, Bengkulu, Lampung and West Java," Raditya said in a press release on Monday.

He advised people who lived near river banks to prepare for potential flooding. Those who lived near cliffs or in hilly areas, he added, should be wary of landslides.

Raditya also reminded the public to follow health protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19 if they needed to evacuate their homes.

Previously, the weather agency called on the public to prepare for extreme weather and possible natural disasters during the shift to rainy season in much of the country.

            Earlier this month, the BMKG has predicted that the rainy season will gradually begin at the end of October for most of Indonesia following the current transitional period from the dry season.

BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati said the first rains were expected to fall in the western parts of the archipelago. She also said the rainy season would reach its peak in January and February next year.

"Most of Indonesia is expected to see the peak of the rainy season in January and February 2021," Dwikorita said in a written statement on Sept. 7.

The BMKG's climatology deputy Herizal explained that out of the 342 seasonal zones (ZOM) in Indonesia, around 34.8 percent would start the rainy season in October, namely parts of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

Meanwhile, 38.3 percent is predicted to see the rainy season in November, such as other parts of Sumatra, Java, Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua, and the remaining 16.4 percent would see rains in December.

"154 seasonal zones, or around 45 percent, are predicted to see a later rainy season this year than in the 1981-2010 period," Herizal said. "The rainy season would start earlier in 68 ZOM, or 20 percent."

He also said around 27.5 percent of ZOM would experience a wetter rainy season this year.

The BMKG has warned the public to remain alert to extreme weather and other potential disasters, especially in regions predicted to experience an earlier and wetter rainy season.

"We advise the public to be more vigilant about the impact of the rainy season, especially those who reside in areas prone to hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides," the head of the BMKG's Climate Change Information Center, Dodo Gunawan, said.

Dwikorita also urged regional administrations to implement disaster mitigation plans by setting up integrated water systems from upstream to downstream such as saving water in embankments, dams or other water retention pools as well as preparing the river capacity to anticipate a higher volume of water. (nal)