Beware of Extreme Weather, Several Major Cities Potentially Raining Lightning Today

Illustration of lightning rain (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has detected the potential for rain accompanied by lightning that is expected to hit a number of major cities in Indonesia today, Tuesday, April 21.

BMKG Praktirawan Sufia Nur explained that the extreme weather was triggered by atmospheric dynamics which caused the growth of rain clouds to increase around the convergence area and cyclonic circulation.

"For the western part of Indonesia, the potential for lightning rain is predicted to occur in Padang, Jambi, Pangkal Pinang, Palembang, Bengkulu, Pontianak, and Tanjung Selor," said Sufia, quoted by Antara, Tuesday morning.

Sufia added that the potential for similar weather also hangs over eastern Indonesia, where Mamuju and Ambon City are predicted to experience rain accompanied by lightning or lightning throughout the day.

In addition to thunderstorms, BMKG predicts that moderate intensity rain will pour over the Bandung, Palangka Raya, and Denpasar areas.

Meanwhile, densely populated areas such as Jakarta, Semarang, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya are predicted to experience light intensity rain.

This significant weather dynamics is caused by the formation of cyclonic circulation in the western Indian Ocean of Sumatra, West Kalimantan, and Papua which forms a wind meeting area or convergence.

"This condition triggers the potential for heavy to very heavy rain, especially in the North Sumatra, West Java, Central Java, East Java, to South Sulawesi and South Papua," he said.

Regarding the potential for extreme weather, BMKG appeals to the public in affected cities to increase vigilance against the impact of hydrometeorological disasters such as waterlogging or flash floods in coastal areas.

"The public needs to continue to update weather information through official BMKG channels and increase preparedness for this periodic potential for extreme weather," said Sufia.