Tourists Warned Of Extreme Weather Alerts Issued Across Bali

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Tourists across Bali and surrounding provinces are being warned about extreme weather alerts on land and at sea.

The news comes after two tourists lost their lives in Indonesia’s oceans in the last week, one in Bali and another in East Java. 

The Denpasar Center for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BBMKG) has announced an early warning for extreme weather in most areas of Bali.

The BBMKG has said that several areas in Bali have the potential to experience heavy rain, which could be accompanied by lightning and strong winds of short duration over the next few days.

Weather alerts are in place for locations across Bali’s nine regencies: Buleleng, Jembrana, Tabanan, Bangli, Gianyar, Karangasem, Denpasar, Badung, and Klungkung.

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Speaking to reporters the BBMKG Cahyo Nugroho, said that the weather for the next three days is predicted to be overcast with the potential for rain storms and strong winds.

Nugroho said, “The wind generally blows from the west to the northwest with speeds ranging from 4 to 36 kilometers per hour.”

Warnings have been issued to the public to keep changing weather conditions in mind when going about daily work and vacation activities.

Nugroho said “The general public, fishermen and those involved in marine tourism activities should be aware of the potential for high sea waves which could reach 2 meters or more in the waters south of Bali.”

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He added, “People who need the latest information about the weather can access the 24-hour weather information service via the official BBMKG Region III Denpasar social media account,” 

The BBMKG also says, “The public is advised to remain alert and careful about the impacts of disasters that can occur, such as strong winds, fallen trees, lightning, floods, puddles of water, and landslides.”

Warnings have also been issued to marine tourism operators. Tourists planning boat trips, diving trips, and island hopping over the next few days may want to double-check the weather before proceeding with plans. 

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The BBMKG says, “Operators of sea transportation services, fishermen, marine tourism, and people who carry out activities around coastal areas must be aware of the potential for sea waves with a height of 2 meters or more in the southern part of Bali Strait, the Badung Strait, the southern part of the Lombok Strait, and the Indian Ocean south of Bali.”

Tourists heading to the Nusa Islands, Gili Islands, or Lombok are advised to check in with their fast boat provider before traveling to ensure that shields are operating as usual.

“To ensure the safety and comfort of the community, [parties must] also continue to monitor and update information based on weather developments and atmospheric dynamics.”

The warnings come with an extra weight this week after an Indonesian grandfather on holiday with his fancily in Bali lost his life as he was swept out to sea from Seminyak’s Double Six Beach on Friday evening.

A full search and rescue operation was conducted to try and save the 61-year-old man, though his body was recovered from the water on Saturday morning. 

The surfing community is in a state of shock and loss after the news that Gunther Kitzler died on Monday afternoon in East Java.

Kitzler, who had been living in Bali for the last 25 years, was well known in the Bali surf scene. 

Kitzler had been on a surf trip in East Java, which sits just across the Bali Strait from Bali itself, when he was reportedly knocked from his board and found by his friends “unconscious and sinking at the end of his snapped leg rope”.

Despite the best efforts of fellow surfers, Kitzler was dragged under the waves and out of sight. An intensive search and rescue effort recovered his body around 3km from where he was last seen.