A rare spectacle unfolded in Tabanan Regency, Bali, when a sudden hailstorm swept through various areas. The unusual weather on Friday, November 1, 2024, caught residents off guard, sparking astonishment and prompting widespread attention on social media. The question on everyone’s mind was simple: what could cause such an event in this tropical region?
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stepped in to provide answers. Diana Hikmah, a forecaster at BMKG Region III Denpasar, shared that light to heavy rainfall had covered most of Bali during the early afternoon. She explained that the hailstorm in Tabanan was due to strong downward air currents, leading to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds.
“Cold surface temperatures added to this dynamic, causing precipitation to fall as ice pellets,” Diana clarified on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
Diana noted that Bali was in the midst of a seasonal transition, accompanied by the active phase of the equatorial Rossby wave. This period often triggers the development of convective clouds, which can bring intense rain and occasionally hailstorms.
BMKG radar data showed that the hail in Kediri District, Tabanan, lasted only about 10 minutes. While hail is rare in Bali, Diana pointed out that it can occur during transitional seasons, especially in areas with cooler surface temperatures. “These sudden weather changes are common during transitional periods,” she said.
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She reassured residents that the brief hailstorm posed no significant concern but urged them to remain vigilant for other potential extreme weather events.
“Be on the lookout not just for hail but also for heavy rain, lightning, strong winds, and tornadoes,” Diana advised.
Among those who witnessed and recorded the phenomenon was Kadek Ardana, a resident of Sanggulan in Kediri District. He recalled that the rain initially seemed typical until he noticed something unusual.
“When I looked closer, I realized it wasn’t just rain but also ice pellets, making quite a noise on the roof,” Ardana said.
He captured the event in a 52-second video that displayed the heavy rain mixed with ice striking his yard. The footage was soon shared online, where it joined a series of other clips showing the storm’s effects. Some videos showed the loud impact of ice on tin roofs, while others captured motorists stopping as the ice pelted their windshields and car roofs. Another clip featured residents picking up pieces of ice scattered across their yards.
The hailstorm in Bali may have been brief, but it left an impression, drawing attention to Bali’s changing weather patterns and reminding residents of the need to stay prepared for nature’s surprises.
