TEMPO.CO, South Tangerang - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) on Wednesday ensured that the 37.2 degrees Celsius scorching temperature measured in the area of Ciputat in South Tangerang was not classified as a heatwave as it only happened on April 17.

The agency’s head Dwikorita Karnawati also made it clear that the daily maximum temperatures had started to fall. “The heat phenomenon that happened recently in Indonesia was not classified as a heatwave,” said Dwikorita on April 26.

Characteristically, the searing temperature is a phenomenon due to the apparent motion of the sun which is a regular annual cycle.

"While in terms of statistical indicators of temperature events, the maximum temperature spike that reached 37.2 degrees Celsius from BMKG station in Ciputat last week only occurred for one day on April 17, 2023," he said.

The high temperature has dropped and now the maximum temperature is observed in the range of 34 to 36 degrees Celsius in several locations, which is still within the normal climatological range compared to previous years.

"Climatologically, in this case for Jakarta, April-May-June is the months where the maximum temperature reaches its peak, apart from October-November," said the BMKG Head.

A heatwave has been reported since last week in a number of South Asian countries. Meteorological agencies in Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, China, Thailand, and Laos have reported heat events of more than 40 degrees Celsius that have lasted several days with new records of maximum temperatures in the region.

MUHAMMAD IQBAL

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