Meteorological Drought Widespread, BMKG Asks Citizens to Save Water

MATARAM - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) urges people in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to save clean water use to anticipate the impact of meteorological drought which is increasingly widespread as the dry season progresses.

Based on BMKG monitoring, the area that falls into the alert category due to prolonged days without rain continues to increase so that the public is asked to use water wisely to anticipate the potential for a clean water crisis.

"The area that is included in the alert level due to the long day without rain is expanding. We hope that the public can use water wisely to anticipate a clean water crisis," said a practitioner at the NTB Climatology Station, Cakra Mahasurya, as reported by Antara, Monday, July 13.

BMKG set the alert status of meteorological drought in 10 sub-districts spread across six districts, namely Gerung and Lembar sub-districts in West Lombok Regency, Praya Barat and Pujut sub-districts in Central Lombok Regency, Jerowaru sub-district in East Lombok Regency, Lenangguar and Moyohulu sub-districts in Sumbawa Regency, Dompu sub-district in Dompu Regency, and Soromandi and Tambora sub-districts in Bima Regency.

The results of rainfall monitoring on July 1, 2026 showed that most of NTB only received rainfall of 0-10 millimeters per dasarian. The highest rainfall was recorded at 5 millimeters per dasarian at Lambu Rain Post, Bima Regency.

Meanwhile, the duration of days without rain varies from very short to very long categories. The longest record reached 53 days which was recorded at Belo Rain Post and Bolo Rain Post, Bima Regency.

Cakra explained that all areas of NTB have now entered the dry season which is strengthened by the El Nino phenomenon.

Based on the results of monitoring, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) phenomenon is still in the neutral category with an index of minus 0.36, but is expected to move towards a positive phase in August-December 2026.

Meanwhile, the sea surface temperature anomaly in the Nino3.4 region shows that the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is in the El Nino category with an index of +1.69 and is predicted to strengthen in the middle of this year.

BMKG also reminded the public not to burn garbage carelessly or leave a source of fire without supervision in order to prevent forest, land, and settlement fires.