TEMPO.CO, Bandung - A tropical storm has been observed over the Eastern Indonesian waters which showed a pattern resembling the Seroja cyclone that struck the country on April 4, 2021.

A climatology researcher at the Center for Climate and Atmospheric Research at the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN), Erma Yulihastin, revealed this on Thursday, April 6.

She pointed to recent observations of a pair of vortexes or wind eddies growing in the north and south of the Arafura Sea. Both, as of today, have met the category of a pair of tropical seed cyclones and are now identified as 90W and 98S.

According to Erma, a 90W tropical storm located north of Papua has the potential to move north toward the Pacific Ocean. While those in the south have the potential to continue to grow and move southwest towards the area in East Nusa Tenggara.

During the growth stage of the tropical storm in Arafura, Erma added, the increase in rain and strong winds had a direct impact on the East Nusa Tenggara region. Residents of the areas of Alor, Lembata, Wetar, Timor, Kupang, and their surroundings are highly urged to be vigilant.

Erma said the tropical storm in Arafura can potentially turn into a tropical cyclone similar to Seroja which happened two years ago. Tropical Cyclone Seroja was also initiated by a pair of vortices that grew above the Banda Sea according to a recent study conducted by BRIN,

At that time, the vortex in the north moved away toward the Philippines and then turned into a tropical cyclone. Meanwhile, the vortex in the south continued to grow and strengthen and then turned into a Seroja cyclone.

ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)

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