Thick Cloud Cover Forecast to Blanket Parts of Indonesia Today
Jakarta, VIVA – The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast cloudy to thickly cloudy conditions across most of Indonesia on Sunday.
BMKG forecaster Bintari explained that the regions expected to see cloudy and thickly cloudy conditions include Banda Aceh, Medan, Pekanbaru, Jambi, Palembang, Pangkal Pinang, Serang, DKI Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
“Meanwhile, in Kalimantan, Pontianak, Palangka Raya and Samarinda are forecast to be covered in cloud,” Bintari said in a weather forecast statement issued from Jakarta on Sunday, 12 July 2026.
She continued that in the eastern regions, cloudy to thickly cloudy weather is likely in Mataram, Kupang, Gorontalo, Ternate, Sorong, Manokwari, Jayapura, Jayawijaya and Merauke. Meanwhile, partly sunny conditions are expected in Semarang, Denpasar, Makassar and Manado.
Light rain is forecast for Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Selor, Mamuju, Palu and Ambon. In several other areas, smoke, haze or blurry conditions are expected in Padang, Bengkulu, Bandar Lampung, Banjarmasin, Kendari and Nabire.
BMKG has also cautioned the public to be aware of the potential for moderate to heavy rain in the Riau Islands, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi and South East Sulawesi.
According to BMKG, these weather conditions are being influenced by atmospheric dynamics, including the presence of tropical cyclone seed 97W, which has been tracked over the Pacific Ocean north-east of Papua.
The cyclone seed, with a minimum pressure of 1,006 hectopascals and maximum wind speeds of 15 knots, is moving westwards and still has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 to 72 hours.
Although the system has a low chance of becoming a tropical cyclone, it is inducing the formation of convergence and confluence areas in several Indonesian waters and surrounding areas, thereby increasing the potential for rain cloud growth, particularly around the low-pressure area and along wind convergence and deceleration zones.
BMKG has urged the public to continue monitoring the latest weather information and to remain alert to the potential for sudden changes in weather conditions. (Ant)