Warning for Jakarta Residents as Heatwave Grips the Capital

Jakarta’s weather has felt considerably hotter in recent days. The Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov DKI) has urged residents to anticipate health impacts by implementing several protective measures.

Ida Pramuwardani, Acting Director of Public Meteorology at the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), explained the phenomenon. She stated that the hotter weather recently is caused by strong sunlight shining without cloud cover.

“The warmer air conditions recently are generally influenced by fairly strong solar radiation and uneven cloud cover during the day,” said Ida when contacted on Saturday, 14 March 2026.

She also noted that a seasonal transition is currently occurring. During this period, she said, weather from morning to midday will feel more intense.

“Also characteristic of the seasonal transition period, where weather from morning to midday tends to be hotter, but in the afternoon or evening there is still potential for localised rainfall,” she said.

Ida also mentioned the early onset of the dry season potentially arriving earlier in Indonesia. She predicted that the 2026 dry season would begin in most parts of Indonesia in April.

“BMKG predicts the 2026 dry season may arrive earlier in several regions of Indonesia. Most Indonesian regions are predicted to enter the dry season in April (114 ZOM; 16.3%), May (184 ZOM; 26.3%), and June 2026 (163 ZOM; 23.3%), starting from the Southeast Nusa Tenggara region and then gradually spreading to other Indonesian regions,” she said.

This condition is also beginning to occur on Java Island. Therefore, weather will be dominated by clear conditions.

“Currently, the dry season has already entered several regions on Java Island, so weather patterns are dominated by clear to overcast conditions, though there is still potential for moderate to heavy rainfall in some areas,” she said.

Guswanto, the Secretary General of BMKG, stated that the hot weather in Jakarta is not actually due to an early arriving dry season. He said there are atmospheric factors influencing the situation.

“The recent hot weather in Jakarta is not solely because the dry season is arriving earlier, but is influenced by a combination of atmospheric factors; after heavy rain a few days ago, the sky became clear so solar radiation feels more intense,” said Guswanto when contacted separately.

He also noted that the hot temperature in Jakarta is due to solar radiation. He said sunlight recently is shining directly onto the land.

“Solar radiation—clear skies mean sunlight is hitting the surface directly without much cloud cover, so the heat feels more intense,” he explained.

There is also the factor of the apparent motion of the sun. This solar movement, he continued, affects temperatures in Indonesia.

“Additionally, the current condition of the sun’s apparent motion is moving northwards from the equator, so Indonesia’s central and southern regions (including Jakarta) receive more direct solar exposure at midday. This is what makes the weather feel hotter even though it is not yet fully into the dry season,” he said.

“The apparent motion of the sun’s path ranges from 23.5° South to 23.5° North throughout the year. This condition determines the intensity of solar radiation, day-night length, and the phenomenon of shadowless days,” he added.

The Jakarta Provincial Government urged residents to be cautious about hot weather over the coming few days. The provincial government warned people to anticipate health impacts from high temperature exposure, including the potential for dehydration.

“So, according to BMKG’s forecast, for one, two, three days the weather will be quite hot, including today,” said DKI Governor Pramono Anung to journalists at Pure Segera in North Jakarta, as reported by Antara on Sunday, 15 March 2026.

Pramono asked residents not to worry by preparing anticipatory measures, one of which is utilising health facilities owned by the DKI Health Service.

“So, residents in Jakarta need not worry,” he said.

When contacted separately, Ani Ruspitawati, Head of the DKI Jakarta Health Service (Dinkes), explained that hot weather can affect health such as fluid deficiency (dehydration), exhaustion (heat exhaustion), and heat stroke. DKI residents were urged to anticipate the effects of hot weather on their bodies.

“Exposure to high heat can also trigger dizziness, muscle cramps, cardiovascular problems, respiratory issues and can also cause skin irritation,” said Ani.

Vulnerable groups—such as outdoor workers, children, pregnant women and the elderly—are at high risk of experiencing health impacts due to hot weather. To generally anticipate this, she said, residents are advised to drink water and avoid foods with high salt content such as coffee and tea.

Additionally, residents are advised to use hats and umbrellas outdoors and to limit strenuous physical activity outdoors during the day, especially for vulnerable groups. If indoors, use air conditioning or a fan to maintain room temperature.