TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several areas in West Java have had cold weather in the last few days. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) West Java Climatology Station forecaster, Irlando Kusumo, outlined three factors causing this condition amid the dry season.

Irlando explained that the earth's position is at its furthest point from the sun which affects the temperature of an area. “The far distance between the earth and the sun will have an impact on lowering the average minimum temperature of an area,” he said on Thursday, July 20, 2023.

Besides, there is air mass movement from Australia which is currently experiencing winter that brings cold winds to tropical Indonesia, including West Java. The wind is known as the Australian cold monsoon.

The third factor is the clear skies, causing days to be hotter and nights to be cooler. The absence of clouds in the atmosphere makes the heat released by the earth’s surface at night freely escape or not be stored in the atmosphere. “This results in colder air, especially at night until the morning,” Irlando said.

Temperatures hit up to 15.4 degrees Celsius

In the last five days, July 16-20, 2023, the BMKG’s West Java Climatology Station recorded a drop in minimum air temperature in five regions, such as Bandung, Lembang, Cisarua, Bogor, and Kertajati.

Bandung saw the minimum temperature between 17 and 20 degrees Celsius. Lembang has that ranged from 15.4 to 17.4 degrees Celsius, yet in the last three days, it warmed up a bit by one degree per day.

Meanwhile, in Cisarua, the coldest temperature ranged from 16.9 to 18 degrees Celsius, Bogor from 20.8 to 22.6 degrees Celsius, and Kertajati of Majalengka from 21.1 to 23.9 degrees Celsius.

BMKG suggests West Java people prepare warm clothes and blankets and maintain health by drinking enough water and consuming nutritious food. It is also recommended to apply sunscreen for those doing outdoor activities despite cold weather.

ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)

Editor's Choice: BMKG Weather Forecast: Clouds to Cover Jakarta Skies Throughout the Day

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News