Jakarta Prepares Weather Modification to Counter Extreme Drought

The Jakarta provincial government is preparing for potential extreme drought conditions in 2026, prompted by forecasts of a strong El Nino event. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted that the El Nino phenomenon could lead to severe dry spells.

In response, the government is ready to implement cloud seeding operations to stimulate rainfall if the drought situation worsens. Governor of Jakarta, Pramono Anung, stated that the provincial government, through the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), is making necessary preparations. "Coordination with BMKG will certainly be carried out whenever needed, but what is clear is that the DKI Jakarta government through the Regional Disaster Management Agency has also made preparations if necessary," Pramono told reporters.

Jakarta has not seen substantial rainfall for three weeks, contributing to dry conditions, particularly in upstream areas that affect the capital. Pramono noted, "Droughts have occurred in several places." The government is proactively anticipating the impacts of extreme weather events.

BMKG's analysis indicates that sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean have risen significantly, exceeding normal levels by more than 1.56 degrees Celsius, confirming the intensification of El Nino. The agency has issued warnings for drought across various regions. Additionally, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) index is predicted to shift towards a positive phase from September to December, which, similar to El Nino, can cause dry conditions in Indonesia.