2026 Dry Season Comes Earlier and Lasts Longer, BMKG Asks Residents to Prepare to Face the Risk of Drought

KabarJawa.com– The dry season in 2026 is predicted to come sooner and last longer in most parts of Indonesia.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) asked local governments, ministries, institutions and the community to immediately take anticipatory steps so that the impact of drought does not spread to various important sectors such as food, water resources and forestry.

BMKG Deputy for Climatology, Dr. Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, conveyed this warning in an official presentation regarding predictions for the dry season in 2026.

BMKG assesses that this year’s climate conditions have the potential to present a dry season that is drier than usual. This situation requires early preparedness so that community activities and national development continue to run well.

2026 Dry Season Prediction

BMKG predicts that almost half of Indonesia will experience a longer dry season than normal conditions.

Dr. Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan explained that of the 699 season zones (ZOM) in Indonesia, around 47.2 percent of the areas have the potential to experience a longer dry duration. This prediction also shows the gradual arrival of the dry season in various regions of Indonesia.

“A total of 144 seasonal zones or 16.3 percent of the region are estimated to start entering the dry season in April 2026. Then 184 seasonal zones or 26.3 percent of the region will follow in May 2026,” he explained.

The next wave will occur in June 2026, when 163 seasonal zones or 23.3 percent of the region are predicted to begin entering the dry period.

This condition shows that the dry season will come earlier in a number of areas and has the potential to last quite a long time in many parts of Indonesia.

Apart from the longer duration of the dry season, BMKG also predicts that most parts of Indonesia will experience drier conditions than the climatological average.

Dr. Ardhasena explained that 451 seasonal zones or around 64.5 percent of the area are estimated to experience conditions below normal or drier than usual. Meanwhile, around 245 seasonal zones or 35 percent of the area will experience normal conditions during the dry season.

“Drier conditions have the potential to increase the risk of drought in a number of areas, especially in areas that have a high dependence on rainfall for agricultural activities and water sources,” he said.

BMKG Asks All Sectors to Anticipate Early

Seeing the potential impact which is quite broad, BMKG provides a number of recommendations to the government, related institutions and the community so that they can minimize the risk of the dry season.

1. Food Sector

BMKG asked the agricultural sector to make adjustments to production strategies. Farmers should adjust planting schedules and choose plant varieties that require less water.

Plants that are resistant to drought and have shorter planting cycles are also recommended so that production results remain optimal. This step is important to maintain national food security amidst a potential decline in water availability.

2. Water Resources Sector

BMKG also encourages local governments to strengthen water management. Some of the recommended steps include revitalizing reservoirs and reservoirs, improving the water distribution network and maintaining the quality and cleanliness of water sources.

“This step is expected to be able to maintain the availability of clean water for the community during long dry periods,” he added.

3. Forestry and Environmental Sector

BMKG also warned of the potential for increased forest and land fires during the dry season. The government and society should increase preparedness for the risk of drought and take preventative steps early so that fires do not spread.

BMKG: Climate Information Must Become the Basis for Planning

Head of BMKG, Prof. Teuku Faisal Fathani emphasized that climate predictions must be the basis for decision making in various development sectors.

According to him, the 2026 dry season is predicted to arrive earlier in many areas with conditions that tend to be drier. He hopes that all parties can utilize this climate information to develop appropriate mitigation strategies.

“It is hoped that this information will become the basis for planning for various sectors, especially sectors that are sensitive to climate change,” he said.

Prof. Faisal also emphasized that success in dealing with the dry season really depends on the joint commitment between the government, related institutions and the community.

BMKG assesses that dry season predictions are not just weather information, but are an important instrument in national development planning.

By understanding seasonal patterns from the start, the government and society can prepare various mitigation measures, ranging from water management, agricultural strategies, to controlling forest fires.

If there are appropriate and coordinated anticipatory steps, we can reduce the impact of the long dry season so that economic activities and people’s lives continue to run well.

The 2026 dry season is coming earlier and has the potential to be longer. With preparedness and cooperation from all parties, we can face these challenges better. (ef linangkung)