JakartaPost-May 8, 2024
April was the hottest month year-on-year (yoy) as the country’s weather agency recorded an increase of nearly 1 degree Celsius last month, the highest temperature anomaly observed in any Aprils the past four decades. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded an increase of 0.89 degrees C for April’s average temperature compared with the last three decades, from 26.9 degrees on average between 1991 and 2020 to 27.7 degrees this year. The normal temperature for Indonesia in April, according to the agency, ranged from 20.1 to 28.6 degrees C. Among areas recording the highest yoy average temperature increases across the country were Kotabaru regency, South Kalimantan, with a 2.2 degree C increase; North Barito regency, Central Kalimantan (1.7 degrees C) and Medan, North Sumatra (1.5 degrees C). On the other hand, Southeast Maluku in Maluku recorded a 0.5 degrees C drop in the yoy average temperature. While a 1 or 2 degree C rise in average temperature does not seem much, such an increase may prolong hot days without rain and cause droughts to be longer. Vulnerable people, such as children, the elderly and those with health conditions, may also be at risk due to the heightened potential of heat-related illnesses. The observation came as many parts of the country were hit by extreme heat, with temperatures hovering between 34 and 36 degrees C. Indonesia’s extreme heat over the past few weeks has been in line with heat waves and the El Niño phenomenon hitting most Southeast Asian countries. The Philippines, for example, hit a new temperature record of more than 40 degrees C, prompting the government to issue heat warnings and suspend in-person classes in schools. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2024/05/08/indonesia-sees-hottest-april-in-40-years.html.
