BMKG: Shortened Rainy Season of Three to Four Months Predicted for NTB
Lombok Barat (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that the rainy season in the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) region will be delayed and shorter, lasting only about three to four months.
“A normal rainy season lasts for six to seven months. However, this rainy season in NTB will be shorter, with a dominant duration of approximately 10-12 ten-day periods, or roughly three to four months,” said the Head of the NTB Climatology Station, Nuga Putrantijo, during a press conference in Lombok Barat on Wednesday.
The phenomenon of a longer-than-usual dry season is caused by a very strong El Niño influence, monsoon circulation, and sea surface temperatures around the waters of NTB, which affect the arrival and duration of the rainy season.
The westerly winds, or the Asian Monsoon, are predicted to become active in November 2026. Currently, the easterly wind circulation, or the Australian Monsoon, at the 850mb layer still dominates the Indonesian region.
Meanwhile, sea surface temperature anomalies in Indonesian waters from October 2026 to March 2026 are predicted to be dominated by normal to warm conditions, ranging between minus 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius.
BMKG predicts the rainy season will begin entering the West Nusa Tenggara region in December 2026. The peak of the rainy season is expected to occur in March 2027, covering 14,168 square kilometres, or approximately 78 per cent of the NTB region.
Nuga noted that the rainy season will also be wetter, as the amount of water that should be distributed over six months is instead expected to fall within a three to four-month window.
He emphasised that water management planning and agricultural activities are crucial in facing the rainy season.
“For water resources and infrastructure, we need to anticipate water management and drainage capacity. Regarding the disaster and environmental sectors, we all need to increase vigilance against the potential for puddles, floods, and landslides,” said Nuga.
The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of NTB has advised the public to take early mitigation steps in anticipation of the rainy season, which is predicted to arrive in about two months.
The Head of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Disaster Management Cooperation at BPBD NTB, Awan Darmawan, stated that the peak of the rainy season is prone to causing floods and landslides in East Lombok, West Lombok, as well as the Sumbawa and Bima regions.
He suggested that every household, particularly in the southern Lombok area, should construct infiltration wells three metres deep with a one-metre diameter to capture rainwater runoff.
These infiltration wells are highly beneficial for storing water reserves while simultaneously reducing flood risks.
“This is what we call rainwater harvesting—storing water when it is abundant to be used when the dry season returns,” said Awan.
Furthermore, he directed village governments to utilise remaining village fund budgets for structural mitigation measures, including the construction of gabions, the repair of drainage systems, and the dredging of riverbanks to accommodate surging water volumes.
Awan added that the primary proposals from legislative members are also directed towards supporting disaster management efforts in West Nusa Tenggara.
“Disaster management cannot rely solely on the BPBD. All elements of society must move together starting now so that we are not too late in facing extreme weather,” concluded Awan.