"There is potential for moderate to heavy rains which could increase to an extreme level in certain areas in the period of December 31, 2023, to January 6, 2024," BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati said at a press conference in Jakarta on Saturday.
She explained that the potential weather condition is influenced by the Asian monsoon or winds blowing from Asia, currently in the midst of winter, which is associated with westerlies.
Apart from that, the situation is also strengthened by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), namely the phenomenon of rain clouds moving from eastern Africa along the equator across the Indian Ocean.
"The integration of the direction of Asia and the rain clouds can trigger the potential for increased growth of rain clouds, which, of course, will result in moderate to heavy rains," she explained.
She expounded that the rains will potentially occur from December 31 to January 2 in several regions: Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Lampung, Bangka Belitung, Jambi, South Sumatra, Banten, West Java, Central Java, West Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, West Papua, and Papua.
Meanwhile, on January 3-6, 2024, rains are predicted to fall in Aceh, North Sumatera, West Sumatra, Riau, Lampung, Bangka Belitung, Jambi, South Sumatra, Banten, the southern part of Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and East Java.
In the same period, rains will also potentially fall in West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, North Maluku, Maluku, Papua and West Papua.
Karnawati asked the people at large to stay vigilant and keep up-to-date with the latest weather information, especially for those who are going on holiday, so that they could consider the weather conditions.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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