Rain Falls Over West and Central Kalimantan as Weather Modification Operations Extended until 14 September
Rain produced by weather modification operations (OMC) has soaked the regions of West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. This artificial rain is expected to moisten peatlands and extinguish forest and land fire hotspots in several vulnerable areas.
This atmospheric technology intervention directly triggered rain in various locations, including Putussibau, Kubu Raya Regency, and Pontianak City on Friday (4/10). The downpour has successfully increased peat soil moisture, cooled affected areas, thinned the haze, and suppressed the emergence of new hotspots.
In this OMC, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is optimising support through weather analysis and monitoring atmospheric dynamics. BMKG is coordinating intensively with the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), BNPB, the Indonesian Air Force, the Ministry of Forestry, and local governments.
The BMKG team is monitoring cloud mass movement, wind direction, and air humidity levels in real-time to ensure that cloud seeding targets are precise and highly effective.
BMKG Deputy for Weather Modification, Tri Handoko Seto, explained that the accuracy of weather data supply is an absolute requirement for the success of this ecological disaster prevention mission. BMKG is optimising every potential cloud formation, allowing the team to seed salt to support the acceleration of forest fire control.
“Cloud seeding is conducted in peatland areas where hotspots are detected to reduce heat points and improve air quality caused by thick haze,” said Setindo in a statement on Saturday (5/9/2026).
BMKG Operational Director for Weather Modification, Budi Harsoyo, stated that data from BMKG weather radar serves as the primary resource for the joint air fleet to carry out seeding missions controlled from the OMC Post at Supadio Airbase, Kubu Raya. The OMC in West Kalimantan, funded by KLH/BPLH, has been running from 22 August to 4 September 2026.
“In this operation, officers have flown 27 sorties with a total of 24,600 kilograms of pure salt (sodium chloride/NaCl) at altitudes of 6,000 to 10,000 feet to penetrate potential rain clouds,” said Budi.
Extension of OMC in West and Central Kalimantan
In parallel, the government has also been conducting OMC in the Central Kalimantan region from 26 August to 5 September 2026, which has recorded 10 flight sorties with a total of 8,000 kg of NaCl. The results show light to moderate rainfall in several areas, such as Murung Raya, North Barito, West Kotawaringin, Kapuas, Lamandau, and South Barito Regencies.
Given the effectiveness of the results and field requirements, the government has extended the implementation of OMC in West and Central Kalimantan from 5 to 14 September 2026, with financial support from the Ministry of Forestry and BNPB.
Seto emphasised that the integration of BMKG’s weather analysis technology in the OMC marks a paradigm shift in ecological disaster management in Indonesia. The government is no longer merely performing reactive firefighting when fires grow large, but is instead prioritising measured early prevention measures.
Through this cross-sectoral collaboration, BMKG is committed to continuing to provide the best meteorological analysis to maintain air quality, moisten peat ecosystems, and protect the community from the threat of haze.