BMKG: Aceh Has Potential For Rain And Strong Winds Until Eid

Illustration - A number of residents use boats when floods hit Lhoksukon City, North Aceh, Aceh, Monday (3/1/2022). (BETWEEN PHOTOS/Rahmad/rwa)

BANDA ACEH - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) estimates that strong winds and light to moderate intensity rain will still lash the Aceh region until Idul Fitri 1443 Hijri in early May. Residents are asked to be aware of potential hydrometeorological disasters.

"We expect that it will still rain in Aceh until Idul Fitri," said BMKG Class I Data and Information Coordinator Sultan Iskandar Muda Aceh Besar Zakaria in Banda Aceh as reported by Antara, Tuesday, April 26.

Zakaria explained that Aceh is still in the equatorial rainy season, where rain occurs when the sun is at the equator.

When at the equator, the sun heats the sea surface in both the Indian Ocean and the Malacca Strait. There was an addition of water vapor to finally form rain clouds in the Aceh region.

Meanwhile, in early May, he said, there will be a separate phenomenon, namely a change in wind direction from east to west. When the wind direction changes, there is a slowdown in the air mass in which there is water vapor so that rain can occur.

“This change in wind direction has started now, so there are often strong winds. And the peak will be in August to September," said Zakaria.

Therefore, according to him, all areas in Tanah Rencong have the potential for light to moderate rain, but not evenly. Especially in mountainous areas such as Pidie, Bener Meriah, Gayo Lues, Southeast Aceh, Subulussalam and Central Aceh.

Likewise with the potential for rainfall in the south west of Aceh and east of Aceh.

Therefore, he asked the public to be aware of the potential for hydrometeorological disasters due to weather changes, especially overflow floods, flash floods, and landslides.

"Central Aceh needs to be vigilant, such as in Bener Merah, Central Aceh, Gayo Lues, Southeast Aceh, this needs to be vigilant against floods and landslides. The south west region also needs to be vigilant in South Aceh, Aceh Singkil and Aceh Jaya," he said.

Zakaria also asked people who are going home for Eid al-Fitr to the village using private two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles, to be careful with slippery road conditions and landslides due to rainy weather and strong winds.

In addition, Zakaria also reminded the public to be aware of sea wave heights that could potentially reach 2.5-3 meters in the Aceh region.

"The height of this wave is also the influence of the change in wind direction, from the east to the west. Fishermen need to be careful when fishing,” said Zakaria.