Head of the Kupang Climatology Station Apolinaris Geru remarked in Kupang on Thursday (4/7) that the six regions were the districts of Sikka, Lembata, Sumba Timur, Rote Ndao, and Belu as well as the Kupang municipality.
Results of an analysis conducted by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) indicated potential meteorological drought that can spread to several Indonesian provinces, including East Nusa Tenggara.
Geru noted that based on the results of monitoring days without rain conducted until June 30, 2019, the potential of a meteorological drought was observed in most parts of Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara, with the criteria of long to extreme.
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In general, East Nusa Tenggara fell in the category of medium (11-20 days) to very long (31-60 days) for the number of days without rain, he explained. However, the six regions in East Nusa Tenggara come in the extreme category (>60 days) for the number of days without rain, he pointed out.
Hence, he affirmed that the regions had the potential to experience meteorological drought this year. The BMKG has reminded regional authorities to step up vigil over likely forest fires and droughts since the dry season is expected to be drier this year as compared to the previous year.
"Regions affected by droughts in June, July, and August last year should be vigilant this year," Adi Ripalsi, head of the agency's climate information analysis sub-unit, noted recently. "Last year, precipitation during the dry season was less than 20 millimeters a month, and this year, it can go lower," Ripalsi cautioned.
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