Frost Phenomenon Returns to Dieng, Temperatures Drop to Minus 1 Degree Celsius

The Dieng Plateau, spanning the Wonosodo and Banjarnegara regencies, is once again covered by the phenomenon of frost, popularly known as ‘embun upas’. The appearance of these ice crystals marks the arrival of the dry season, accompanied by extreme temperature drops, a phenomenon locally referred to as ‘bedinding’.

Based on monitoring on Tuesday (9/6/2026), frost began covering local plantation areas from the early hours of the morning. While this phenomenon serves as a major attraction for tourists, it simultaneously presents a serious threat to the local agricultural sector.

Local residents have reported much colder temperatures than usual. During the day, temperatures range between 14 and 15 degrees Celsius; however, from night until dawn, temperatures drop sharply to between -1 and 5 degrees Celsius. “The air temperature is quite cold; people here call it bedinding,” said Sunaryo, a local farmer in Dieng.

These conditions have forced farmers to remain vigilant, as frost can cause plant tissues to freeze and die, resulting in total crop failure. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) explained that frost forms when surface temperatures drop below the freezing point due to clear skies without cloud cover at night, allowing Earth’s heat radiation to escape into the atmosphere without obstruction.

Zauyik, an analyst from the Central Java Climatology Station, stated that atmospheric indicators show the dry season is developing in Central Java, characterised by significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. “Monitoring via the Himawari-9 satellite shows increasingly dry atmospheric conditions. This is related to the strengthening of the easterly winds, or the Australian Monsoon, which is beginning to dominate the southern part of Indonesia, including Java,” Zauyik explained.

This annual phenomenon presents a contradiction. For the tourism industry, ‘embun upas’ acts as a magnet, drawing thousands of tourists eager to experience the sensation of ‘snow’ in Indonesia. However, for vegetable farmers, it is a period of hardship. Wahyuni, another Dieng resident, added that although the daytime weather appears cloudy and not too cold, temperatures change drastically at night. Farmers are now attempting to accelerate harvest periods to minimise losses from crop damage caused by ice crystals.

BMKG has advised the public and tourists to prepare thick clothing and maintain their health while the ‘bedinding’ phenomenon persists, as the spread of dry air from the eastern region is predicted to continue strengthening until the end of June.