BMKG Warning: South Sumatra to See Peak Maximum Temperatures in Late October

The Class I South Sumatra Climatology Station of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued an early warning about peak maximum temperatures expected to affect Indonesia, particularly South Sumatra.

BMKG has urged the public to be alert to a rise in hotspots. Hotspots are satellite images indicating areas where forest and land fires may be occurring.

“Palembang and several areas in South Sumatra are forecast to enter the main peak period for maximum temperatures in late October. Average air temperatures during this period could reach 35–37°C,” BMKG said in a statement received on Monday (12 October).

“This phenomenon is linked to the Sun’s apparent annual movement across the equator towards the Southern Hemisphere. Although sunlight continues to shift southwards, maximum temperatures do not peak at the same time,” it added.

BMKG said the Earth’s surface takes time to respond to the solar energy it receives, meaning peak temperatures can occur several weeks after the period of maximum solar exposure. “This delay is known as thermal lag,” said Wandayantolis, head of the Class I South Sumatra Climatology Station.

He said the conditions required vigilance because the dry season was continuing in several parts of South Sumatra.

“High temperatures, low soil moisture and drying vegetation can make land more vulnerable to fires,” Wandayantolis said. “If a fire starts, it can spread more easily and worsen smoke conditions,” he added.

According to the SiPongi website managed by the Ministry of Forestry, checked at 1.17pm Western Indonesian Time, at least 40 high-confidence hotspots had been detected in South Sumatra by the NASA-NOAA20 satellite. The highest number was in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI), with 35.

Ogan Ilir and East Ogan Komering Ulu each had two hotspots, while Banyuasin had one.