BMKG East Java Monitors Indications of El Niño Emergence

Malang, East Java (ANTARA) - The Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) East Java Climatology Station is conducting intensive monitoring of indications of the emergence of the El Niño phenomenon.

“BMKG has released information that an El Niño will emerge in mid-year with weak intensity. However, it will be updated later whether this weak El Niño intensity will increase to moderate or strong,” said the Head of the East Java Climatology Station, Anung Suprayitno, in Malang, East Java, on Saturday.

He explained that if the El Niño intensity increases to moderate or strong, it will affect the duration of the dry season, which could last longer.

“In fact, the start of the rainy season could be delayed until some areas enter the rainy season only in 2027,” he stated.

Based on information posted on the official social media account of the BMKG East Java Climatology Station, the 2026 dry season is expected to occur gradually from April to June 2026. Meanwhile, the peak of the dry season is projected for August 2026.

In the meantime, BMKG East Java Climatology Station forecaster Linda Fitrotul added that El Niño is predicted to emerge around June and July 2026. The development of the phenomenon’s intensity on a higher scale also has the potential to trigger drought and forest and land fires (karhutla).

“But the impact on each region varies,” she said.

Linda stated that they have coordinated with the East Java Provincial Government apparatus down to the district and city levels as a form of preparedness to implement early mitigation against the impacts of El Niño, one of which concerns water availability for the agricultural sector.