Dieng Plateau Blanketed in Frost Again as Temperatures Drop to Minus 3 Degrees Celsius

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has urged tourists visiting the Dieng highlands in Wonosobo, Central Java, during the July to September period to be aware of plunging temperatures that cause the phenomenon of frost, known locally as ‘embun upas’. Due to the temperature drop, the Dieng region is blanketed in frost resembling a layer of snow. ‘We urge tourists who will visit during the June to September period to prepare clothing suited to local conditions, such as thick jackets, gloves, and socks,’ said Yoga Sambodo, head of the BMKG Meteorological Station in Semarang, on Thursday. According to him, temperatures in the Dieng area during this period can fall below zero degrees Celsius. He explained that the phenomenon of ice granules on the surface is known to the community as ‘embun upas’. Climatologically, he said, air pressure during the June to September period is higher over the Australian continent compared to Asia. He noted that winds blowing from Australia towards Asia, passing through Indonesia, generally mark the start of the dry season, coinciding with the active Australian monsoon. During the dry season, cloud cover is very minimal, so it is not surprising that during the day, the sun feels extremely intense accompanied by a rise in air temperature. This occurs because there are no objects in the sky to block the sun’s rays. ‘Similarly, during the night, the radiation emitted back by the earth’s surface is also optimal because the sky is free of cloud cover,’ he said. He added that air humidity is quite high in mountainous and highland regions. The high humidity indicates that the air in the area has a high moisture content. The BMKG predicts that the frost phenomenon will peak in August.