Predicted Godzilla El Niño: Why Is It Still Raining? Expert Explanation

Predictions of a prolonged dry season due to the Godzilla El Niño are increasingly concerning the public. However, frequent rainfall in several parts of Indonesia has raised questions: why is rain still falling amid the El Niño issue? Responding to this, IPB University expert in geophysics and meteorology, Sonni Setiawan, explained that the phenomenon is normal within climate dynamics. Primarily because Indonesia is currently in a transitional season. “Because this is still pancaroba, and the start of the season is not uniform across all regions of Indonesia,” Sonni clarified in a written statement, quoted on Sunday (12/4/2026). She emphasised that the ongoing rain does not necessarily indicate a flawed prediction. According to her, indications of a prolonged dry season remain evident based on the tendency of rising sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. “Yes, because the sea surface temperature in the central and eastern tropical Pacific region tends to increase,” she said. This condition serves as an initial signal for the development of the El Niño phenomenon, which has the potential to reduce rainfall in Indonesia during the rainy season. In fact, based on BMKG information, this year’s dry season is estimated to last longer, around six months. Sonni revealed that the start of the dry season could arrive earlier than usual, particularly in Java, which typically enters the dry season in July. According to her, this acceleration is related to the rise in sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, which reduces cloud formation in Indonesia.