BMKG warns of potential rain due to Cyclone Mekkhala

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has reminded the public to be alert to the potential for rain of varying intensities in a number of regions affected by atmospheric dynamics, including the presence of Tropical Cyclone Mekkhala and cyclonic circulation. In a daily weather forecast broadcast followed from Jakarta on Monday, Tropical Cyclone Mekkhala was observed in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, with a minimum pressure of around 970 hectopascals and a maximum wind speed reaching 70 knots. The system is moving west to northwest. “The system forms convergence and confluence zones extending in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines and around the circulation,” said BMKG Forecaster Selly Brilian. Additionally, a cyclonic circulation is forecast to form in the Makassar Strait, which also triggers the formation of convergence and confluence zones in that area. Similar conditions are also forecast to occur in several regions in Indonesia. “Vigilance needs to be increased regarding the potential for moderate to heavy intensity rain in a number of areas,” she said. Meanwhile, for weather forecasts in major Indonesian cities, BMKG predicts the potential for rain accompanied by lightning in Tanjungpinang and Bandar Lampung. Light rain is likely in Medan, Pekanbaru, Padang, Jambi, Pangkal Pinang, Bengkulu, Palembang, Serang, Bandung, Semarang, Pontianak, Palangkaraya, Tanjung Selor, and Samarinda. Regions forecast to be cloudy to heavily overcast include Banda Aceh, Yogyakarta, and Banjarmasin. Meanwhile, hazy conditions are likely in Jakarta and Surabaya. For eastern Indonesia, light rain is forecast in Denpasar, Mataram, Mamuju, Kendari, Palu, Nabire, Jayapura, Wamena, and Merauke. Meanwhile, sunny cloudy to heavily overcast conditions are forecast in Kupang, Makassar, Gorontalo, Manado, Ternate, Ambon, Sorong, and Manokwari. BMKG urges the public to continue monitoring the latest weather information developments, both through the official website and BMKG social media.