Rainfall Intensity Increases

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

An employee of the East Jakarta Parks and Funeral Service Officer cuts Angsana tree branches on Jalan Lingkar Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, Monday (25/2/2019). Besides reducing branches that disrupt electrical wires, the tree branch pruning is also intended to prevent the trees from collapsing due to strong winds during the rainy season.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS —The intensity of the rain is expected to increase this month and it has the potential to trigger hydrometeorological disasters, especially floods and landslides. This phenomenon is set to last until next week, especially in Sumatra and western Java.

The increase in rain was triggered by the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) movement in the Indian Ocean. The atmospheric wave, which carries a wet air mass, has moved from the west around the Indian Ocean to the east and it could increase the potential for rainfall in the area it passes through.