TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued an early warning of the potential for heavy rain accompanied by lightning and strong winds in most provinces in Indonesia today, Jan. 12.

The agency’s weather forecast shows that heavy downpours with lightning and strong winds are likely to occur in 22 of 34 provinces, including Bangka Belitung, Bengkulu, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Lampung, Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and East Java.

Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Maluku, Gorontalo, Papua, and West Papua are also likely be hit by thunderstorms.

According to the agency, the potential for rain cloud growth in parts of the archipelago was increasing due to the presence of cyclonic circulation and areas of convergence or confluence (wind confluence).

A cyclonic circulation was observed in the Indian Ocean south of West Java, forming a convergence area extending across the Indian Ocean south of Banten.

The convergence area was also observed extending from Lampung to Central Java, the Java Sea, and central and southern Papua. In addition, the confluence areas were also found in the Flores Sea, Banda Sea, and Arafuru Sea.

Read: BMKG Weather Forecast: 2022 Rainfall May Be Lower Than Last Year

ANTARA