Tidal Floods Hit Central Java's North Coast, BMKG Issues Forest Fire Warning

High tide or tidal flooding inundated a number of coastal areas along the Pantura route in Central Java on Monday (13/7). The phenomenon, which has been occurring since the morning, was accompanied by a warning of high waves reaching up to 2.5 metres in the northern and southern waters, posing a risk to shipping activities.

Shafira Tsanfadhila, a forecaster at the BMKG Tanjung Emas Maritime Station in Semarang, revealed that this tidal flood exhibited a different pattern. While tidal floods usually occur in the late afternoon to evening, this time the high tide lasted from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Western Indonesia Time with a maximum height of one metre.

Several areas affected by the tidal flood include Pekalongan, Batang, Kendal, Semarang, Demak, Jepara, Pati, and Rembang. “The tidal flood in a number of areas along the Pantura route in Central Java has the potential to disrupt residents’ activities such as transportation, loading and unloading of goods at ports, inland fisheries, and salt farmers,” said Shafira.

In addition to the tidal flood, BMKG also issued a warning regarding high waves. In the northern waters, especially the western and eastern Karimunjawa areas, waves are expected to reach 1.25 to 2.5 metres. Similar conditions are also likely to occur in the southern waters from Cilacap to Purworejo.

Shipping activities involving fishing boats, barges, and cargo and passenger ships are urged to be vigilant, especially when wind speeds exceed 15 knots. In general, wind speeds in the Central Java region are observed to range from 5 to 30 kilometres per hour.

Meanwhile, the weather in Central Java is forecast to be partly cloudy to cloudy throughout the day with no signs of rain. Rany Puspita, a forecaster at the BMKG Ahmad Yani Meteorological Station in Semarang, stated that the dry season is increasingly being felt by the community. BMKG has issued an early warning to be aware of the potential for forest and land fires. “Be aware of forest and land fires because there are many dry leaves,” Rany stressed.

Air temperatures in Central Java currently range from 16 to 34 degrees Celsius with humidity levels reaching 45 to 95 percent. The public is urged to remain alert to extreme weather changes occurring both in coastal and inland areas.