Drought Expands, BMKG Says Cloud Seeding Not Yet Feasible

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has stated that weather modification operations (OMC) cannot yet be carried out to address the drought affecting several regions in Indonesia. BMKG explained that the success of OMC depends on the availability of rain clouds that can be seeded.

Supari, Head of BMKG’s Monthly Prediction Working Team, said the agency has around 6,000 rainfall observation points used to monitor precipitation developments across Indonesia. “In early July 2026, based on rainfall data reports from 4,686 observation points, it is known that parts of Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara have not experienced rainfall for more than a month, which could indicate potential drought,” Supari told Republika on Saturday (18/7/2026).

Supari said these regions have recorded no rain for 30 to 60 days. According to him, the longer an area goes without rain, the higher the potential for drought. “The longer the duration without rain, the more severe the potential level of drought,” Supari said.

Responding to the possibility of implementing OMC, Supari said the measure could indeed be one mitigation effort. However, its execution must meet several requirements. He said the effectiveness of OMC is highly dependent on the right timing, the availability of rain clouds, and the precise location for seeding.

“The main principle is that OMC cannot create rain from a clear sky,” Supari stated. He explained that OMC can only increase the chance of rain if there are growing rain clouds with sufficient water content to be seeded. “Therefore, during a dry season, OMC cannot be carried out because there are no cloud seeds to seed,” Supari concluded.