Anticipate Extreme Rain, BMKG Modifies Weather in 6 Points of the Indonesian Region

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has modified the weather in six points in Indonesia to anticipate extreme rain, ranging from Lampung Province to East Nusa Tenggara.

The head of the BMKG, Teuku Faisal Fathani, revealed that Indonesia will enter the peak season of the rainy season in January-February. According to him, rainfall will increase significantly in a number of areas such as southern Sumatra, Java, Bali, to Nusa Tenggara.

Faisal also said that there were three cyclones and cyclone seeds around Indonesia, namely the Bakung cyclone, the 93S cyclone seed, and the 95S cyclone seed. He said that these three cyclone seeds have the potential to cause extreme rain so that BMKG needs to prepare anticipatory steps, one of which is weather modification.

"Our weather modification operations are carried out to prevent rain clouds from approaching the Indonesian mainland. So if they approach, we will sow the rain clouds with seeding material from NaCl so that they fall in places such as in the waters, or in the sea, or in places that are not dangerous," said Faisal in his statement, Tuesday, December 16.

"Or if it reaches above Jakarta, we will spread CaO, so that it breaks up and there is no rain," he added.

Faisal explained that weather modification could reduce rainfall by 20-50 percent. Currently, he said, BMKG is conducting weather modification at six points, including West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, Lampung, and Nusa Tenggara.

"So this helps to control or mitigate meteorological disasters that may be caused by extreme weather," he explained.

"BNPB and BMKG, under the coordination of the Ministry of Transportation, also created a weather information platform for land, sea, and air transportation," continued Faisal.

Faisal added, BMKG together with related institutions always carries out monitoring and anticipation for the safety of the community. He also asked the public to be alert but remain calm in the face of potential extreme weather.

"We have been working together with BNPB, BPBD, and Basarnas. For the public, stay calm as long as we can monitor the conditions and always be prepared for heavy rainfall and high waves," he concluded.