Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast that this year's dry season will start in several Indonesian provinces in April.

“The dry season will start gradually from April to July," BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati said here on Thursday.

Nusa Tenggara, Bali will enter the dry season from April, while Java region, and parts of Kalimantan, and Sulawesi will experience it in May-June, 2021, she informed.

Of the total 342 Season Zones (ZOM) in Indonesia, 22.8 percent are expected to enter the dry season in April this year. The season zones include Nusa Tenggara, Bali, and parts of Java.

At least 30.4 percent of the zones will enter the dry season in May, 2021. The zones include parts of Nusa Tenggara, parts of Bali, Java, Sumatra, parts of Sulawesi, and parts of Papua.

Related news: BMKG forecasts heavy rainfall in parts of Indonesia's regions

Meanwhile, 27.5 percent of the regions will enter the dry season in June, 2021, including parts of Sumatra, Java, parts of Kalimantan, parts of Sulawesi, a small part of Maluku, and Papua.

"The dry season in 2021 will come later with the accumulation of rainfall similar to the usual dry season conditions. This means that the dry season in 2021 will tend to be normal and there is little chance of a meteorological drought," she forecast.

Meanwhile, the dry season is expected to peak in August this year in most parts of Indonesia, she informed.

Ministries and agencies, local governments, related institutions, and the public in general are expected to be more prepared and take anticipatory steps against the possible impact of the dry season, especially in areas prone to forest fires and water shortages, she added.

She suggested that local governments carry out rainwater harvesting to fill up lakes, reservoirs, retention ponds, and other artificial water storage.



Related news: BMKG forecasts rains, gusty winds in parts of North Sumatra





Translator: Devi NSR, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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