7 Regions Enter Drought Warning Status in NTB

JAKARTA - BMKG stated that seven areas out of a total of 10 regencies/cities in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) were included in the meteorological drought warning status due to the drought strengthened by El Nino with an index of +2.26 degrees Celsius.

"Belo Rain Post and Bolo Rain Post in Bima Regency have not recorded any rain for 74 consecutive days. Both areas are included in the category of extreme drought because they have been without rain for more than two months," said Prakirawan of the NTB Climatology Station, Suci Agustiarini in Mataram, Saturday.

Suci explained that the seven areas that were included in the drought warning status were East Lombok Regency, North Lombok, West Sumbawa, Sumbawa, Dompu, Bima, and Bima City.

Currently, a total of 17 sub-districts in seven areas in West Nusa Tenggara are at the highest level of meteorological drought early warning.

According to him, the El Nino phenomenon which is getting stronger during the dry season this year has caused the days without rain to continue to lengthen in a number of areas.

The strengthening of El Nino is expected to last for the next few months. Meanwhile, the Indian Ocean Dipole or IOD phenomenon, which is currently still neutral, is expected to switch to a positive phase from September to December 2026.

At the end of July 2026, rainfall in NTB was generally dominated by the low category between 0 to 10 millimeters per day. The highest rainfall was recorded at the Lenangguar Rain Post, Sumbawa Regency, at 19 millimeters per day.

BMKG estimates the chance of rain on the first week of August 2026 or the period from 1 to 10 August is still very small with a chance of less than 10 percent throughout West Nusa Tenggara.

Suci reminded the public to be aware of the potential for forest, land, and settlement fires by not burning garbage carelessly or leaving the source of fire without supervision.

"In connection with the increasingly long days without rain and the increasing number of areas that are in the meteorological drought warning status, we hope that the public can use water wisely to anticipate a clean water crisis," he concluded.