Dieng Frost: Tourists Urged to Brace for Sub-Zero Temperatures

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has urged tourists to be aware of the significant drop in temperatures in the Dieng highlands, Wonosobo, Central Java, which leads to the phenomenon of ground frost, locally known as ‘embun upas’. The temperature drop in Dieng during the dry season is expected to occur from July to September. ‘Tourists visiting during the June to September period should prepare clothing suited to local conditions, such as thick jackets, gloves, and socks,’ said Yoga Sambodo, head of the BMKG Semarang Meteorological Station, on Thursday (9/7). He explained that temperatures in the Dieng area during this period can fall below zero degrees Celsius, causing the formation of ice crystals on the ground, a phenomenon known as ‘embun upas’. During the June to September period, atmospheric pressure over the Australian continent is higher than over Asia. Winds blowing from Australia towards Indonesia generally mark the start of the dry season, coinciding with the active Australian monsoon. During the dry season, cloud cover is minimal, leading to intense daytime sunshine and a rise in air temperature due to the lack of objects blocking the sun’s rays. ‘The sky is free from cloud cover,’ he stated. BMKG predicts the ground frost phenomenon will peak in August.