Bali Braces For More Heavy Rains Just As Communities Begin To Recover

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The Center for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics has issued further weather warnings across Bali as heavy rains continue to fall across all regencies. Bali is in the height of the annual monsoon months, though downpours this year feel as though they are coming in faster than in the last few monsoon seasons combined.

According to the National Center for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BKMG) weather warnings have been issued across many of Indonesia’s major cities, including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya. In Denpasar, the capital city of Bali province, the local BMKG office has shared warnings for heavy rains, high tides, and lightning storms on the 2-3rd March, with another review due before the weekend.

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The Head of the BKMG Bali, Cahyo Nugroho, appealed to the public to be extra vigilant if going out in bad weather. He said that heavy rains are forecast in many of Bali’s leading tourist destinations, including Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Bedugul. Warnings have also been given to communities in and around Tanah Lot, Ubud, Kintamani, and Besakih. Moderate to heavy rains are predicted throughout the daylight hours.

Nurgoho said, “the BMKG’s appeal to the community, among others, is advised that the public are to remain vigilant and careful about the impact of disasters that can be caused by extreme weather such as floods, puddles, landslides, strong winds, fallen trees, and lightning storms”.

He also advised those who are planning on heading out to sea to be ultra cautious and to note that high waves are predicted on the waters surrounding the island. Waves on Nusa Dua beach are expected to reach up to 2.5m along the usually placid coastline. Likewise, in Kuta and Tanah Lot, waves of up to 2.5m in height are expected to roll in. In Sanur, another family holiday destination loved for its calm shoreline, is expected to see waves over a meter in height.

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Nurgoho also issued warnings to those heading out to sea, especially those making the crossing from Bali to the Nusa Islands, Gili Islands, or Lombok. Nurgoho continued, “the high potential of sea waves can reach two meters or more in the Bali Sea, Bali Strait, Badung Strait, Lombok Strait, and Indian Ocean in the southern part of Bali.” He appealed to the public, especially fishermen and fast boat tour operators, to not take risks out on the water.

After a fast boat capsized and sunk during a crossing from Nusa Penida to Bali late last year, the public and maritime tourism operators are being warned more and more frequently about the impact of high waves on small boats. The rainy season this year has caused serious damage to dozens of communities around Bali and has even prompted leaders in charge of activities on Bali’s mountains to take extra care.

This week the Head of the Observation Post of Mount Agung, Dewa Made Mertayasa, issued a warning to hikers to observe weather conditions before setting out on a hike and to refrain from camping anywhere near the summit of Bali’s most sacred mountain. Mertayasa said, “If you want to stay overnight, we urge you not to get too close to the top of Mount Agung because it is very dangerous during extreme weather like now”.

He continued, “The point is that you are equally vigilant. If it is not possible to stay overnight, you should not.”

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, the Head of Badung Disaster Management Agency, I Wayan Darma, confirmed that he and his teams had responded to serious weather-related disasters in Ungasan, Benoa, Kuta, Seminyak, Penang, Canangsari, Abiansemal, and Darmasaba. The full extent of the damage is still being calculated, but initial estimates suggest that IDR 100 million of material losses have been experienced by the communities affected.