TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The Yogyakarta Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) asked the public not to link the recent scorching hot weather in the region with the volcanic activity of Mount Merapi which actively spewed hot clouds and incandescent lava.

The daily temperature in the special region on May 1-12, 2022, ranged from 31-33.6° Celsius with the highest daily temperature at 33.6° Celsius on May 3, 2022.

“This extreme temperature has nothing to do with the activity of Mount Merapi,” said Head of Yogyakarta Meteorological Station Warjono to Tempo, Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

Warjono, however, did not rule out the possibility that the volcanic activity has the potential to trigger an increase in temperature in the region and its vicinity, especially if Merapi is actively spewing hot clouds.

Head of Sleman Climatology Station, Reni Kraningtyas, explained that the phenomenon was caused by several factors, including the pseudo-motion of the sun, which is now located in the north equator. As a result, the growth rate of clouds and rain was greatly dropped.

Reni also clarified that the recent hot weather was not a heatwave phenomenon. “In principle, this hot temperature still has to be watched out until mid-May,” she added.

The BMKG thus encouraged the public to always maintain body stamina and fluids to prevent dehydration, fatigue, and other bad effects, especially for those who are active outdoors.

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PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)