BMKG Clarifies 'Bediding' Is Not Extreme Weather

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has stepped in to clarify a common misconception about "bediding," a noticeable drop in air temperature between night and morning. Social media narratives had begun to label this phenomenon as extreme weather, prompting the BMKG to set the record straight.

"It's important to understand that bediding is not a 'sweeping' phenomenon like an extreme weather event, but rather a seasonal condition when the air feels colder due to reduced cloud cover," stated Ida Pramuwardani, BMKG Director of Public Meteorology. She explained that the intense cold is a result of clear nights allowing the Earth's back radiation to escape directly into the atmosphere. This effect is amplified by low humidity and dry air masses moving in from Australia.

The agency noted that these seasonal cold temperatures typically begin in June and intensify through July and August, particularly on clear nights when the easterly winds, also known as the Australian monsoon, strengthen. The "bediding" effect is not widespread across Indonesia but is most pronounced in regions experiencing clear skies, low humidity, and reduced rainfall.

Areas commonly affected include East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, Bali, the southern parts of Java, the highlands of Java, and parts of southern Sumatra like South Sumatra and Lampung. To cope with the cooler conditions, the BMKG advises residents to wear warm clothing and stay hydrated. The agency felt it necessary to educate the public, distinguishing normal seasonal climate variations from extreme weather events, especially after social media posts, like one from @4climate, highlighted temperatures as low as 13-16 degrees Celsius in Batu, Malang, East Java.

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It's important to understand that bediding is not a 'sweeping' phenomenon like an extreme weather event, but rather a seasonal condition when the air feels colder due to reduced cloud cover.