Extreme Weather; Climatology Researcher Warns of Rainstorms in February

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Climatology researcher Erma Yulihastin reported possible extreme weather in February 2022. She revealed that the western and eastern regions of Indonesia have the potential to experience increased rainfall throughout February compared to January 2022.

The hike in rainfall intensity, she said, will be centered in the western regions covering Java and parts of Sumatra as well as eastern regions of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Maluku, and Papua.

“During February, the public and stakeholders should be alert to an increase in extreme weather in the form of high-intensity rain accompanied by strong winds,” said Erma, the scientist from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in a written statement, Thursday, Feb. 10.

She added that light rain possibly occurs continuously throughout the day or night.

Rainstorms and strong winds, Erma reported, had occurred on the southern coast of western Java on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Light-intensity rains continued to shower most parts of Java throughout the night, which was preceded by strong winds in the afternoon or evening.

This weather phenomenon was attributable to several factors, such as the tropical cyclone 93S in the Indian Ocean south of western Java, the third wave of the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) in the Indian Ocean, and moderate-intensity La Nina, as well as the Rossby equatorial wave.

“Those produce high-intensity rain and strong winds in some areas near the coast and persistent light rain in the central part of Java,” Erma outlined.

Read: BKG Warns Extreme Weather for the Rest of the Week

ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)