BMKG Warns of Extreme Drought in NTB, 17 Districts Under High Alert

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has declared that seven out of ten regencies/cities in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) are under a high alert for meteorological drought, driven by the dry season and intensified by the El Niño phenomenon. This condition increases the risk of clean water crises and forest and land fires in several areas.

Suci Agustiarini, a forecaster from the NTB Climatology Station, stated that the Belo and Bolo rain stations in Bima Regency have not recorded any rainfall for 74 consecutive days. “The Belo and Bolo rain stations in Bima Regency have not recorded any rain for 74 consecutive days. Both areas fall into the extreme drought category as it has been more than two months without rain,” Suci said in Mataram on Saturday (1/8/2026).

Suci explained that the seven areas under high drought alert include East Lombok, North Lombok, West Sumbawa, Sumbawa, Dompu, Bima, and Bima City. Currently, there are 17 districts within these seven areas at the highest level of meteorological drought early warning.

According to Suci, the El Niño phenomenon, which is strengthening during this year’s dry season, has caused the period without rain to continue lengthening in several regions. The El Niño condition is expected to persist for several months ahead. Meanwhile, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) phenomenon, which is currently in a neutral phase, is projected to transition to a positive phase between September and December 2026.