BMKG Asks Residents To Be Alert To Potential Extreme Weather In NTB During Voting Day For The 2024 Election

Motorcyclists while crossing the Central Lombok highway during rain in the NTB area some time ago (ANTARA/Akhyar Rosidi)

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to the public to be aware of the potential for extreme weather on February 12-15 or during the 2024 General Election in the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province. "Be aware of the potential for extreme weather on February 12-15, 2024 in the NTB area," said Head of the ZAM Lombok Meteorological Station, Satria Topan Primadi in a written statement in Mataram, Antara, Sunday, February 11. BMKG monitors the development of weather conditions throughout Indonesia currently shows the significance of atmospheric dynamics which has an impact on the potential for increased rainfall in a number of regions in Indonesia. "The atmospheric conditions show several phenomena that support the formation of quite intensive rain clouds in the future, including Rossby Ekuator waves and Kelvin waves in several parts of Indonesia, including the NTB region," he said. The BMKG stated that the presence of a low pressure center (Low Pressure) in the northern region of Australia formed bend areas, encounters and decelerations of wind speed (convergence) that could increase convective activity and could maximize the potential growth of rain clouds in several parts of Indonesia including NTB in the next few days. "Based on these conditions, BMKG predicts the potential for rainfall with moderate to heavy intensity which can be accompanied by lightning and strong winds for the period 12 to 15 February 2024," he said. The potential for extreme weather is predicted in areas as regencies of North Lombok, Central Lombok, East Lombok, Sumbawa, West Sumbawa, Bima, Bima and Dompu. Therefore, residents are expected to increase awareness of potential disasters that can be caused, such as floods, landslides and fallen trees in the NTB area. "The potential for extreme weather occurs in the morning until early morning," he said. In addition, the BMKG issued an early warning of the potential for high waves in the waters of NTB on February 12 to 15, 2024, namely the wave height category 1.25 – 2.5 meters in the southern Lombok Strait, southern Alas Strait, Southern Sape Strait and South Indian Ocean NTB.

"Residents who carry out activities in the waters of the NTB area are to remain alert to the impact of the disaster that can be caused by the high waves," he said.