Jakarta Revives Weather Modification Effort for Rain and Hydrometeorological Disasters

The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) keeps intensifying the Weather Modification Operation (OMC), to reduce extreme weather and preparedness for facing hydrometeorological disasters.

The humidity prediction at each layer is quite humid, reaching 100 percent

On the third day, February 16, 2025, the Jakarta Government made collaboration with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Indonesian National Air Force (TNI AU), and PT Rekayasa Atmosphere Indonesia (RAI).

BMKG's Weather Modification Governance Acting Director, Budi Harsoyo stated, light to moderate rain was expected in the morning to afternoon in parts of Jakarta. The potential for rain cloud growth in the regions of Banten, Jakarta, and West Java generally has a high potential.

Jakarta Braces for Extreme Weather by Relaunching OMC

"The humidity prediction at each layer is quite humid, reaching 100 percent," he expressed, Monday (2/17).

According to him, the purpose of the weather modification in Jakarta is to reduce weather extremities that, if not anticipated, could potentially cause flooding.

He explained the threshold intensity of rainfall that causes flooding in Jakarta is when the rainfall intensity exceeds 50 mm/day. Therefore, if rain is detected with an intensity of more than 50 mm/day, it will be anticipated with seed sorting.

"However, if the rainfall is just normal, we will let the cloud cells turn into rain over the sky of Jakarta. So, there is no need to worry if during the weather modification period, Jakarta experiences drought as many people mistakenly believe at this time," he explained.

BPBD's Logistics and Equipment Sub Group Chair and also a speaker for OMC 2025, Michael Sitanggang uttered weather modification was previously done in only one sortie with the seeding area of Southwest-Northwest.

"This area is to reduce the potential for extreme weather predicted to occur during the day," he explained.

Overall, weather modification until the third day had been conducted in five sorties using 4 tons of food-grade NaCl salt.

"This step is part of a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the potential for extreme weather and prevent hydrometeorological disasters in Jakarta," he said.