Meteorologists Explain Why Fog Is Impacting Tourist’s Bali Blue Sky Vacations

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Meteorologists in Bali have spoken to the media about the haze that has fallen over many parts of the island.

The haze has been frequently mistaken for volcano ash as a result of the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in the Flores Islands.

However, this is not the case. The haze is not smoke and is a meteorological phenomenon called advection fog. 

This is not the first time advection fog has hit Bali; in fact, in October and November last year, advection fog rolled in over the south coast, affecting Uluwatu and Nusa Penida most noticeably.

Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Region III Denpasar, Ariantika, told reporters, “For the fog condition that covers Bali right now, it is not smoke, because from satellite monitoring, there is no spread of smoke around the Bali area; the condition is likely to be advection fog.”

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Advection fog, or advection haze, is caused when warm air and moisture from the ocean, or a large body of water, gets pulled up into the atmosphere, and air currents pull it over land where it then cools.

Advection fog can also affect visibility, which is why it has seemed hazy at sunrise and sunset in the south of Bali over the last couple of days. Ariantika added, “Advection fog has no smell, unlike smog, which smells burning and pungent.”

Bali-based weather forecaster Diana Hikmah also confirmed to the media that the advection fog is not a cause for public concern.

She explained, “When the morning sun heats the land faster than the sea surface, the air pressure on the land becomes lower. This causes water vapor from the sea to move to the cooler land surface, condense, and form fog.” 

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Hikmah also explained that based on records, a similar phenomenon occurred in late 2023, as was reported by The Bali Sun at the time.

However, this incident also corresponded with wildfires and fires at the Suwung TPA open landfill site. Hikmah explained that horizontal visibility is currently in the range of 7 to 10 kilometers.

She shared, “So far, this phenomenon has not had a significant impact on flight activities at Ngurah Rai International Airport.”

The BMKG has also confirmed that no volcanic ash distribution was monitored in the Bali area based on satellite imagery. 

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Hikmah concluded, “There is no special appeal regarding this hazy air; the public is more advised to be careful of the potential for extreme weather that can occur during the transition period until the rainy season, such as heavy rain that can be accompanied by thunder or lightning and strong winds of short duration.”

According to IQ Air, there are no serious air quality warnings in Bali at this time. Air quality in Denpasar on Wednesday, 27th November, was recorded as US AQI 118, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Air quality in top resorts such as Canggu, Seminyak, and Sanur was ranked between 80-95, which is considered moderate.

On Wednesday, the cities with the highest air pollution rates in the world, as recorded by IQAir, were Sarajevo, Lahore, Skopje, Delhi, and Kathmandu. 

Back in Bali, forecasters are bracing for the rainy season. Current projections suggest that a weak La Niña weather pattern could trigger increased seasonal rainfall.

Bali Climatology Station Forecaster Staff Happy Febriana Abdi Bintari explained, “When a weak La Nina occurs, rain in Bali often lasts longer and is more intense. For example, rain that usually falls from morning to evening can continue until night. The intensity also tends to be heavy.”

The BMKG is advising the public to stay up to date with the weather forecasts over the coming months and respond accordingly.

Bintari concluded, “Community awareness and preparedness are very important in reducing the risk of extreme weather. With the right steps, we can better face this weak La Niña phenomenon.”