Amidst rising concerns about climate change, Indonesia is currently experiencing an intense heatwave affecting multiple regions. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has documented the maximum daily temperatures from July 8, 2024, at 07.00 WIB to July 9, 2024, at 07.00 WIB, revealing that ten cities are enduring particularly high temperatures, peaking at 33.4 degrees Celsius.
During early July 2024, several cities faced persistent heat, with temperatures ranging from 33.7 to 33.4 degrees Celsius. According to BMKG’s official Instagram account (@infobmkg), Banda Aceh, Aceh, recorded the highest temperature in Indonesia at 35.2 degrees Celsius, as reported by the Sultan Iskandar Muda Climatology Station.
Kapuas Hulu in West Kalimantan followed as the second hottest area, with the Pangsuma Meteorology Station noting a high of 34.3 degrees Celsius. Ketapang, also located in West Kalimantan, ranked third, reaching a maximum temperature of 33.7 degrees Celsius.
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Here is the list of the ten hottest cities in Indonesia based on BMKG’s observations from July 8 to July 9, 2024:
- Sultan Iskandar Muda Meteorology Station, Banda Aceh (35.2 degrees Celsius)
- Pangsuma Meteorology Station, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan (34.3 degrees Celsius)
- Rahadi Oesman Meteorology Station, Ketapang, West Kalimantan (33.7 degrees Celsius)
- Sentani Meteorology Station, Jayapura, Papua (33.7 degrees Celsius)
- Banten Climatology Station (33.6 degrees Celsius)
- Radin Inten II Meteorology Station, South Lampung (33.6 degrees Celsius)
- Kemayoran Meteorology Station, Central Jakarta (33.6 degrees Celsius)
- Maimun Saleh Meteorology Station, Sabang, Aceh (33.5 degrees Celsius)
- Sultan Muhammad Kaharuddin Meteorology Station, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara (33.5 degrees Celsius)
- Deli Serdang Geophysics Station, Medan, North Sumatra (33.4 degrees Celsius)
In a prior report by CNN Indonesia, BMKG emphasized the alarming rise in urban temperatures across Indonesia, ranking among the highest globally in Land Surface Temperature (LST) values. This trend poses serious concerns and necessitates immediate action.
BMKG Chief Dwikorita Karnawati explained that the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon, where urban areas experience significantly higher temperatures than rural areas, is exacerbated by complex city structures, limited vegetation, and greenhouse effects. Additionally, the transformation of land into built-up areas has worsened UHI conditions.
Over the past 30 years, BMKG has observed a significant UHI effect in major Indonesian cities such as Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Medan, Semarang, Surabaya, Makassar, and Bandung. These cities are among the top 20% with the highest LST values, according to a report by Antara on June 30.
Dwikorita warned that if left unchecked, this temperature increase will continue to escalate. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently declared 2023 as the hottest year on record, with global daily temperature records and extreme heatwaves affecting parts of Asia and Europe. The global average temperature anomaly reached 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, nearing the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit set by the Paris Agreement in 2015.
The 2023 climate records are not random events but clear signs of the escalating climate crisis. Consequently, BMKG emphasizes the urgent need for collective action involving the government, society, private sector, academia, media, non-governmental organizations, and youth to mitigate the factors driving these temperature increases.
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