People in flood, flash flood and landslide prone regions will not be able to breathe a sigh of relief anytime soon, according to the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics of the Republic of Indonesia (BMKG). It predicts that this year's ongoing rainy season will only pass its peak in February 2017.
“Based from the Indonesian atmospheric and climatic conditions, the frequency of extreme weather is expected to increase” said Dr. Andi Eka Sakya, Director General of BMKG, during a press conference in BMKG Headquarters. “This heavy rain condition will persist until reach its peak in December 2016, January and February 2017,” Dr. Andi explained.
Few global and regional influences that may cause this situation such as the MJO (Madden-Julian Oscillation) evolution, the Indonesian sea surface temperature (SST) that is still warm, ENSO, IOD, but all these condition are not significant. The most influencing factor for this current condition is from local circulation for example vortex formations around the Indonesian area, cold surges and shear lines. These local conditions indicate that heavy rain intensity in Indonesia with thunderstorm and strong wind will likely increase.
BMKG advice the public to be ready for these extreme events. Heavy rain with thunderstorm and strong winds will raise sea waves to potentially dangerous heights, and also increasing the chance of flooding, flash floods, landslides, fallen tree, flying debris and other hydro-meteorological hazards.
