Bekasi, Karawang First to Enter West Java’s Extended Dry Season

The long dry season expected in West Java has begun. Based on observations from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) during the first ten days of April 2026, at least one area has shown clear signs of entering the dry season.

Vivi Indhira Purnaningtyas, a weather forecaster at the West Java BMKG Climatology Station, said in an online interview on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, that northern parts of Bekasi Regency and Bekasi City, as well as northern Karawang, began experiencing the dry season in the second half of March.

According to BMKG’s definition, the dry season occurs when total rainfall in a ten-day period, known as a dasarian, is less than 50 millimeters. If these conditions persist for two additional periods — making a total of 30 days with less than 150 millimeters of rainfall — the period is officially classified as the dry season.

Vivi added that BMKG forecasts the dry season in West Java will last between 100 and 300 days. In terms of dry spell duration, 10–12 day periods cover 22 percent of the region, 13–15 days cover 42 percent, 16–18 days cover 12 percent, 19–21 days cover 15 percent, and 22–24 days cover 5 percent.

She also noted that areas experiencing longer dry spells of 28–30 days account for about 2 percent of the region, particularly in Bekasi. Another 2 percent of the region, mainly in Bogor, is categorized as a single-season area, meaning it typically experiences only the rainy season.

Teguh Rahayu, head of the BMKG Geophysics Station in Bandung, said that 39 other regions in West Java are still in the rainy season. These areas are expected to gradually transition to drier conditions from April to June, with rainfall predicted to be below normal.

The onset of the dry season in West Java is expected to occur earlier than usual, potentially resulting in a longer dry season, according to the BMKG West Java coordinator.

Meanwhile, Fachri Radjab, BMKG’s Director of Climate Change, said recent analyses indicate that this year’s dry season will arrive earlier and last longer than usual.

“This year is slightly drier compared to the 30-year average, although it is not the driest in that period,” he said, noting that the 1997 dry season was more severe.

Fachri added that this year’s dry season coincides with a developing El Niño event. While El Niño and the dry season are separate phenomena, they influence one another. BMKG predicts that El Niño will begin in late April or early May and reach weak to moderate intensity between August and October 2026.

Source : https://en.tempo.co/read/2098158/bekasi-and-karawang-lead-west-java-into-long-dry-season?tracking_page_direct#goog_rewarded