BMKG: Cyclonic circulation triggers potential heavy rainfall across several parts of Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported the formation of cyclonic circulation points and convergence zones that could trigger the development of clouds capable of producing heavy to very heavy rain across several parts of Indonesia on Friday, 22 May. Forecaster Alya Sausan, in a weather briefing received in Jakarta on Friday, explained that the cyclonic circulation is currently monitored in the western Indian Ocean off Bengkulu, the Makassar Strait, the Maluku Sea, and the northern Pacific Ocean of Papua. ‘These conditions significantly increase the potential for cloud growth around the cyclonic situation as well as along the convergence or confluent zones,’ she said. Alya added that convergence and confluent zones stretch from the western Indian Ocean off Aceh to the west of West Sumatra, the Flores Sea, the Maluku waters, and from the Halmahera Sea to the Philippine Sea. Additionally, other convergence zones were detected in Riau, Central Kalimantan, the southern part of the Makassar Strait, the Banda Sea, and the Seram Sea. Meanwhile, confluent zones formed in the Andaman Sea, the Philippine Sea, the Arafura Sea, and the northern Pacific Ocean of Papua. Based on the analysis of atmospheric dynamics, BMKG urged heightened readiness in the Bangka Belitung Islands, West Kalimantan, and Maluku, which are at risk of heavy to very heavy rain. Meanwhile, for the weather forecast in several major cities in western Indonesia, rain with thunder is forecast in Pangkal Pinang, Palembang, Pontianak, and Banjarmasin. Serang is predicted to experience moderate rain, while Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Pekanbaru, Tanjung Pinang, Bandar Lampung, Tanjung Selor, Samarinda, and Palangka Raya are expected to have light rain. For other Sumatra regions such as Banda Aceh, Medan, Padang, and Bengkulu, the forecast is mostly cloudy to overcast, with hazy conditions in Jambi. In the eastern part of Indonesia, BMKG forecasts thunderstorms in Manado, Kendari, and Sorong. Moderate rain is expected in Nabire. Next, light rain could soak Gorontalo, Palu, Mamuju, Makassar, Ternate, Ambon, Manokwari, Jayapura, Jayawijaya, and Mataram. Meanwhile Denpasar, Kupang, and Merauke are expected to be cloudy to overcast throughout the day.