Understand how to read BMKG weather forecast is an important skill for every Indonesian citizen. BMKG or Meteorology Agency, Climatology, and Geophysics are official government agencies that provide accurate weather information to the entire region of Indonesia. However, many people are still confused about reading data BMKG weather forecast Because of his technical views and terms.
Is that a BMW and why it's important?
BMKG stood since 1866 and was the oldest meteorological institution in Southeast Asia. This institution operates over 200 weather stations throughout Indonesia. Therefore, the BMKG data is considered the most representational to local weather conditions in Indonesia.
BMKG uses numerical weather models combined with local observation data. As a result, the BMKG forecast for the Indonesian region is often more accurate than international weather services such as AccuWeather or Weather.com. Especially for remote areas and islands that are rarely covered by global models.
BMKG Weather Symbols Reading
BMKG uses a standard international symbol set by the World Meteorological Organization. Each symbol represents certain weather conditions. Here are the symbols that most frequently appear in BMKG weather forecast.
☀️ Sunny — Clean skies without clouds. High visibility and no chance of rain. UV index is usually at high level to very high.
⛅ Cloudy — Some of the sky is covered with clouds, but there's still sunlight. Probably a little rain. Temperature is more comfortable than full sunny weather.
☁️ Close — The entire sky is covered with thick clouds. The chance of rain rising is significant. These conditions usually precede heavy rains or thunderstorms.
🌧️ Light Rain to Heavy — The precipitation goes down with varied intensity. BMKG separates the intensity of rain to light (1-5 mm / hour), medium (5 -20 mm / hour), dense (20-50 mm / hour), and very heavy (over 50 mm / hour).
⛈️ Thundershowers — Rain with lightning and thunder. These conditions are dangerous for outdoor activity. Find shelter immediately if this symbol appears in forecasting.
Understand Numbers in BMKG Weather Viewing
In addition to symbols, the BMKG weather forecast also displays various numbers that need to be understood. Each number has a different unit and meaning. Here's the full explanation.
Temperature (° C) — BMKG displays maximum temperature and minimum daily. Maximum temperatures are the highest temperatures estimated to occur during daylight. Minimum temperature is the lowest temperature that usually occurs early in the morning. The difference between the two is called daily temperature amplitude.
Humidity (%) — The humidity numbers indicate the percentage of water vapor in the air. The humidity above 80% feels very humid and uncomfortable. Instead, the humidity below 40% feels dry and can cause irritation of respiratory tract.
Wind Speed (km / h or knots) — BMKG uses knot units for wind speed. One knot equals 1.85 km / h. The wind above 40 km / h has been categorized rapidly and can disrupt outdoor activity.
Rain Chance (%) — These numbers show the probability of rain happening in an area in a given period. The 30% chance of rain means that from 10 days of similar conditions, it rains 3 times. Opportunity above 70% means most likely it will rain.
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BMKG provides some way to access weather forecast information. Select the most appropriate methods for your needs and habits.
Official BMKG website — Visit bmkg.go.id for complete weather forecast to the degree of achievement. This website also provides earthquake information, tsunami, and extreme weather early warnings.
InfoBMKG Mobile Application — It's available at Google Play Store and Apple App Store for free. This program shows weather forecasts, early warnings, and interactive weather maps. Push notification features help you get extreme weather warnings in reality-time.
Cuaca.in — As a more readable alternative, use Today's weather. in Cuaca.in which shows data in a simpler format. Also available 7-day forecast with a more intuitive display for layman users.
Tips Reading Weather Prediction with Accurate
Weather forecasts are scientific predictions, not absolute certainty. Therefore, there are some important tips for reading them precisely and not misinterpreting.
First, always pay attention to data updates. The forecasts were updated six hours ago more accurately than they were updated 24 hours ago. Second, use short-term forecasts (1-3 days) for daily planning and middle-term forecasts (4-7 days) for public images only.
Third, combine the BMKG forecast with a direct observation of the conditions of the skies around you. Sometimes local conditions can be different from forecasts because topography is complex. Fourth, for high-risk activities such as mountain climbing or cruise, always consult with nearby BMKG stations.
Watch too Extreme weather warning and UV index and humidity For additional information complete BMKG data.
Another BMKG Viewer and Weather Applications
A lot of weather apps are available on smartphone, from AccuWeather, Weather.com to Google Weather. Each uses a different source of data and predictive model. Therefore, predictive results between one application and another can be different.
BMKG uses observation data from local Indonesian stations that no international service has. As a result, BMKG is generally more accurate to remote areas and islands. However, international services such as Open- Meteo used Cuaca.in use high-resolution ECMWF models which are also very accurate to major cities.

