Full Moon High Tides In Bali Leads Experts To Issue Weather Warnings

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Ships have been stranded on Bali beaches as a result of heavy rains, bad storms, and full moon high tides. Waves crashed high and hard along the coastlines of Gianyar and Karangasem regencies during the early hours of Wednesday 13th July. 

According to the Center for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BBMKG) Region III Denpasar waves reached over 4m in height as they crashed onto land. The BBMKG has issued weather warnings and flood risk warnings due to the high tides during this full moon.

The full moon on the 13th of July was a supermoon and the impact of the full moon on the tides will be felt throughout the luna phase that runs until Saturday when the moon begins its waning stage. 

The high waves could be seen at More Beach in Gianyar and the sea water flooded the parking lot of a seafood tour operator’s cafe. Due to the drama of the waves the Head of Emergency and Logistics of BPBD Gianyar I Gusti Ngurah Dibya Presasta agreed that the flooding in the area may continue for the next few days. He said ‘Information from BBMKG July 13-14, it is estimated that high waves will occur on the southern coast of Bali, especially on beaches in Gianyar. The waves are up to 4 meters high’.

Dibya also recommended that the public avoid the area over the full moon period since rising high tides and dangerous waves pose a threat to public safety. The beach is largely used by locals and not often visited by tourists. He said, “Officers direct visitors not to approach the beach. Please avoid the beach, because of the extreme weather, fishermen should not go to sea”.

Storms in the area have also caused trees to fall and cause to damage property. The local reports share how trees fell in the Banjar Teges Kanginan temple graveyard, Peliatan Village, Ubud District. The damaged trees in the graveyard fell into farmland that sits adjacent to the temple grounds. There have been no reported causalities. 

Even in Denpasar City, the alarm has been sounded for potential rising flood waters. The Secretary of the Denpasar City BPBD, Ardy Ganggas, said his party is preparing for the potential tidal flooding along the coast of Denpasar City.

He explained to local news reporters “To anticipate tidal flooding on the coast, 17 personnel from Balawista BPBD Denpasar City have been alerted with the community and PB (Disaster Management) volunteers”. The BPBD is the Regional Disaster Management Agency. There are four BPBD posts in the Denpasar City region that are on standby for tidal flooding, these are Sunrise Beach Post, Segara Ayu Beach Post, Mertasari Beach Post, and Serangan Beach.

Gangaas told Nusa Bali Newspaper that his teams are monitoring the situation closely and will issue direct warnings to beach visitors when needed. The Coordinator for Data and Information for BBMKG Region III Denpasar, I Nyoman Gede Wiryajaya also gave his insights into the flooding risks and said ‘The public is advised to always be vigilant and alert to anticipate the impact of the maximum tide of seawater and pay attention to maritime weather information updates from BMKG Region III Denpasar’.

Earlier in the week, two large barges ran aground in East Bali due to the high tides and heavy wind and rain. The ships were stranded in the waters off Tanah Ampo, Manggis, in Karangasem. Fortunately, there were no causalities and the crew was all able to be evacuated safely. 

The ships had been in the waters around Tanah Ampo for 7-months as the crew was working on an off-shore construction project. As of Wednesday morning teams with tug boats and other equipment to move the ships were deployed to help drag them back into deeper waters. The operation is tricky since the ships are carrying heavy construction equipment.