As Bali moves deeper into the dry season, many residents and visitors have started noticing a familiar change in the air. Nights feel colder, early mornings require an extra layer of clothing, and temperatures across several parts of the island have dropped noticeably over the past few days. This condition means cooler air arrives early in Bali.
According to the Regional Office III of Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Denpasar, these cooler conditions are expected to continue for several more months. The agency forecasts that the cold-weather phenomenon will persist through August 2026, which coincides with the peak of Bali’s dry season.
Weather forecaster Brian Eko Permadi explained that lower temperatures are a normal annual occurrence. They typically begin at the start of the dry season and become more pronounced as the season progresses.
“So this cooler air temperature period in Bali usually occurs from the beginning of the dry season until its peak. That is from June, July, through August. The peak of the dry season falls in August, so these cooler temperatures are expected to continue until August before ending,” said Brian.
Meteorological observations from BBMKG’s climatology station in Negara, Jembrana Regency, recorded a minimum temperature of 19 degrees Celsius. While that figure represents the lowest officially measured temperature so far, conditions in Bali’s mountainous regions are likely even colder.
“The lowest recorded temperature was 19 degrees Celsius. The station is located in the urban area of Negara. Bali also has highland regions, but we do not have recording stations in those locations. Therefore, temperatures in the highlands are likely lower than 19 degrees Celsius,” he explained.
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The possibility of temperatures dropping further remains open. According to Brian, weather conditions in each location will determine how cold a particular night can become. Areas experiencing clear skies throughout the day are more likely to see lower temperatures after sunset.
“They can still decrease. It depends on conditions in the field. For example, if there are absolutely no clouds throughout the day, temperatures at night are very likely to become even colder. For now, however, the lowest recorded temperature remains 19 degrees Celsius,” he said.
Historical climate records show that Bali has experienced even colder temperatures in previous years. Data collected from the Kahang-Kahang Climatology Station in Karangasem Regency once recorded a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius. Even so, BBMKG does not classify that reading as an extreme weather event.
“Based on previous records, the absolute minimum temperature ever recorded was 16 degrees Celsius. No, that is not considered extreme. A temperature is classified as extreme when it differs by around three degrees from its normal value. Therefore, an absolute temperature of that level is still considered normal. So far, we have not experienced extreme conditions,” Brian said.
While June is typically the month when the cooler season begins, this year the change arrived slightly earlier than expected.
“Usually it starts in June. This year it arrived a little earlier, at the end of May. Around May 28 or 29, the cooler temperatures had already begun,” he said.
BBMKG identified three major factors behind the seasonal drop in temperature.
The first is the lack of cloud cover during the dry season. Clear skies allow heat absorbed during the day to escape more easily into the atmosphere after sunset. This causes temperatures to fall more rapidly at night.
“The amount of heat absorbed by the Earth becomes limited. As a result, temperatures at night become colder than usual. The absence of clouds from morning until night also contributes to this effect,” Brian explained.
The second factor is the annual apparent movement of the Sun. At present, the Sun is positioned in the Northern Hemisphere, while Bali lies in the Southern Hemisphere. As the Sun moves farther north, less solar heating reaches the island, contributing to cooler temperatures.
The third factor is the active Australian Monsoon, also known as the easterly monsoon wind. This weather pattern carries cool and dry air masses from Australia toward Bali.
“The third factor is the active Australian Monsoon, or easterly monsoon winds. These winds bring cooler and drier air masses from Australia toward Bali,” he said.
The coldest conditions generally occur during the early hours of the morning. Temperatures usually begin dropping significantly around 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. and reach their lowest point between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m.
As the cooler season continues, BBMKG is encouraging residents to take care of their health. Tourism workers and fishermen are among those advised to pay particular attention to their physical condition because of their frequent outdoor activities.
“Our advice to the people of Bali regarding these cooler temperatures, especially tourism workers and fishermen, is to maintain their health and physical endurance by eating nutritious food, getting enough rest, and taking vitamins. Avoid excessive activities that can cause fatigue, and wear sufficiently warm clothing during the evening,” he said.
With the dry season expected to peak in August, Bali’s crisp mornings and chilly nights are likely to remain a part of daily life across the island for the next several months.
