East Java Government Implements Cloud Seeding Operations Ahead of Eidulfitri
The East Java Provincial Government is conducting Cloud Seeding Operations (OMC) to anticipate extreme weather ahead of the peak homecoming rush and Eidulfitri 2026 holiday period.
Gatot Soebroto, Head of Implementation (Kalaksa) at the East Java Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), stated that the operation focuses on cloud seeding at multiple vulnerable locations, ranging from the Tapal Kuda region to the southern coast of East Java.
“In accordance with the Governor’s instructions, we are implementing this cloud seeding operation to reduce the risk of hydrometeorological disasters during the Eidulfitri season,” said Gatot in Surabaya on Tuesday (17 March).
On the first day of operations, the air team completed three flights totalling 5 hours and 20 minutes. Approximately 2,800 kilograms of calcium oxide (CaO) or seeding material was dispersed across Situbondo and northern Banyuwangi.
On the second day, the PK-SCJ aircraft was deployed to target western and central regions, including the northern zone around Tuban, the central zone around Mojokerto and surrounding areas, followed by southern and Tapal Kuda areas such as Jember, Situbondo and Banyuwangi.
Gatot emphasised that this weather modification is planned to continue for ten days ahead, through 26 March 2026 or five days after Eidulfitri. This is being undertaken as a preventive measure to ensure that rainfall intensity along major homecoming routes remains manageable.
“This cloud seeding operation also represents the East Java Provincial Government’s service to residents travelling home for the Eidulfitri holiday,” Gatot concluded.
Previously, the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Juanda issued an early warning regarding the potential for extreme weather threatening nearly all regions of East Java during the Eidulfitri 2026 homecoming period.
Taufiq Hermawan, Head of BMKG Juanda, urged residents to remain alert to the threat of hydrometeorological disasters in the coming days leading up to Eidulfitri.
“Be alert to the potential for extreme weather in several East Java regions that could result in hydrometeorological disasters, moderate to heavy rainfall, flooding, flash floods, landslides, strong winds, tornadoes, and hail until 20 March 2026,” said Taufiq on Saturday (14 March).
Multiple districts in East Java facing potential extreme weather include Bangkalan, Banyuwangi, Blitar, Blitar City, Bondowoso, Gresik, Kediri, Kediri City, Malang City, Lumajang, Madiun, Magetan, Malang, Mojokerto and Nganjuk.
Also included are Ngawi, Pacitan, Ponorogo, Probolinggo, Sampang, Sidoarjo, Situbondo, Sumenep, Trenggalek, Tulungagung and Jember.
Additionally Pasuruan, Bojonegoro, Jombang, Batu City, Mojokerto City, Pasuruan City, Probolinggo City, Surabaya City, Lamongan, Pamekasan and Tuban.
Taufiq explained that most of East Java is currently entering a transitional period (pancaroba) from the rainy season to the dry season. However, the presence of global atmospheric phenomena is intensifying the potential for extreme weather.
“This extreme weather potential is a result of atmospheric disturbances from the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) spatially and Kelvin waves that will traverse the East Java region,” he stated.