Indonesia is a tropical archipelago with two seasons; rainy (wet) and dry. Currently, this country is experiencing the former. Some people happily welcome this season because they have plenty of water to live and plant crops. However, the rainy season in Indonesia is not always a blessing.
Sometimes, the wet season triggers various disasters in some Indonesian provinces, such as Bekasi, Bogor, and Jakarta. During the rainy season in Jakarta Indonesia, this region is frequently hit by floods. In addition, heavy rains also trigger landslides, thunderstorms, and hails in other regions.
About the Rainy Season in Indonesia
Indonesia’s rainy season lasts for approximately 6 months. When does rainy season start in Indonesia? This season starts in October. Moreover, it ends in March or April depending on the region. The wet season in this country occurs because of the Asian monsoons.
This monsoonal wind blows from Asia to Australia and delivers water vapor to the Indonesian archipelago. As a result, this country has higher rainfall during the wet season. In addition, La Nina also affects the amount of rainfall in this country.
This phenomenon supports the formation of rain clouds in Indonesia. Therefore, the country experiences many days of heavy rains during La Nina. Moreover, local thunderstorms and strong squalls often occur in this region. What does the rainy season in this country like?
Characteristics of Indonesia’s Rainy Season
The rainy season in the Indonesian archipelago is unique compared to that in Africa or other tropical countries. Below are the characteristics of Indonesia’s wet season.
Humidity: In this season, the relative humidity in Indonesia is between 70% and 90%. In Bali and Sumatra, the humidity is typically over 80%. Meanwhile, the moisture level in Jakarta can reach 95%.
Temperatures: The temperature in this country during the rainy season varies between regions. However, it ranges from 23oC to 32oC. The combination of this temperature and high humidity makes the weather feel hotter than it is.
Winds: During the rainy season, the winds are strong. They often accompany heavy rains. Therefore, they may pose a danger to fragile structures or old trees. However, typhoons or large-scale storms seldom happen in Indonesia.
Rainfall: The average rainfall can reach 218.4 mm per month during the wet season. However, rains do not occur all day during the rainy season in Indonesia. Moreover, rain varies between regions. Consequently, some provinces are wetter than others.
Conditions in Different Regions of Indonesia During a Rainy Season
As stated above, rainfall in Indonesia differs between regions. Below are brief overviews of the rainy season in different parts of Indonesia.
Sumatra: Northern Sumatra experiences year-round rain. However, heavy rains typically occur between October to January. Meanwhile, the southern part of the island has a distinct rainy and dry season. In this area, the former lasts from October to March.
Java: The rainy season in Java Island starts in November and ends in April. Western Java has higher rainfall than the eastern part.
Bali: The wet season in Bali lasts from October to March. During this season, the weather is hot and humid because the humidity is over 80%. Moreover, the island reaches the peak of the rainy season in January.
Nusa Tenggara: Nusa Tenggara has lower rainfall than other islands in Indonesia. The wettest months in this region are November to February.
Sulawesi: Sulawesi has a different wet season period. In this island, particularly the north, rain typically falls in June and July.
Kalimantan: Kalimantan has high rainfall all year round. However, the wettest is March to May and November to January.
West Papua: Some regions in West Papua rain almost all year round. However, other regions experience lower rainfall.
Disasters During the Rainy Season and How to Prepare for Them
Heavy rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds during the rainy season in Indonesia often lead to various hazards, such as flash floods, landslides, and down trees. The risks for these disasters typically increase during the peak of the rainy season and the transition season from rainy to dry season.
Therefore, both the government and its people must prepare for these hazards. Residents of the Indonesian archipelago can prepare for these disasters by monitoring weather updates from the meteorological agency. Therefore, they know when a rainy day in Indonesia may cause a hazard.
On the other hand, the government can prepare for these hazards by improving its early warning system (EWS). One of the ways to improve this system is using a cell broadcast alert to warn residents in the affected area.
This method can effectively disseminate early warning alerts on floods, hails, thunderstorms, and extreme weather updates. Therefore, the government can help residents minimize the impact of floods and other disasters.
The rainy season in Indonesia lasts for about six months. During this season, heavy rains and thunderstorms frequently occur and trigger various hydro-metrology disasters. To minimize the impact of these disasters, the Indonesian government must use cell broadcasters to alert the people. These broadcasters are available for purchase on smsbroadcaster.com.
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