Indonesia Braces for Widespread Rainfall and Potential Extreme Weather
Jakarta, Indonesia – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued a nationwide weather forecast predicting varying intensities of rainfall across Indonesia on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The agency warns of potential extreme weather conditions and urges public vigilance.
Heavy Rainfall Expected in Several Regions
According to BMKG forecaster Rizky, atmospheric dynamics are driving these conditions. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated in East Nusa Tenggara, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Maluku, and South Papua.
Thunderstorms and Lightning Risks
Several major cities are at risk of experiencing rain accompanied by lightning, including Padang, Jambi, Palembang, Pangkal Pinang, Semarang, Banjarmasin, Samarinda, Tanjung Selor, Kendari, and Merauke. BMKG advises residents in these areas to take necessary precautions.
Regional Forecasts
Light rain is possible in Medan, Pekanbaru, Serang, Bandung, Pontianak, Palangkaraya, Denpasar, Kupang, Palu, Gorontalo, Manado, Ternate, Ambon, and much of Papua. Conversely, Yogyakarta, Banda Aceh, Tanjung Pinang, Bengkulu, and Mataram are forecast to have sunny to partly cloudy skies. Hazy air is expected in Bandar Lampung. Kompas reports similar forecasts.
Jakarta Weather Outlook
In Jakarta, the BMKG predicts rain will affect parts of the city from Thursday afternoon through the evening. West and North Jakarta will be partly cloudy until 1:00 p.m., with light rain beginning between 4:00 p.m. And 7:00 p.m. East and South Jakarta may experience moderate rain at 4:00 p.m., potentially followed by lightning by 7:00 p.m. Central Jakarta is expected to be sunny until 10:00 a.m., shifting to partly cloudy by 1:00 p.m., with light rain falling from 4:00 p.m. To 7:00 p.m. The Seribu Islands will transition from cloudy to sunny with clouds by 4:00 p.m., with heavy clouds returning from 7:00 p.m. To 10:00 p.m.
BMKG Urges Vigilance and Information Updates
The BMKG is urging the public to stay informed and increase their vigilance regarding these shifting weather conditions. Residents are encouraged to regularly update themselves on the latest weather information through the BMKG website (bmkg.go.id) and its social media channels (@info.bmkg).