Weather radar is the most sophisticated tool you can use to understand the weather conditions in reality-time — It's much more accurate and detailed than regular forecasts. In Indonesia, BMKG operates the network weather radar which spread from Sabang to Merauke, allowing detection of clouds, thunderstorms, and dangerous weather systems before even being felt on the surface. Understanding how reading the weather radar will change the way you plan activity everyday.
Key Takeaways
- BMKG weather radar can be accessed free at bmkg.go.id / weather / radar — display conditions of clouds and rain in reality-time every 10 minutes.
- The color on the weather radar shows the intensity of rain: green, yellow, red, purple, dark red.
- Indonesia has more than 34 weather radar (C-band Doppler) scattered throughout the islands — One of the most complete weather radar networks in Southeast Asia.
- Weather radar differs from weather forecasts: radar shows present state, predictive estimates suggest premonition.
- The weather radar combination + satellite imagery + BMKG gives us the most comprehensive understanding of weather.
BMKG Weather Radar Reading
Each color on a weather radar view represents a reflective intensity. The more intense the color, the more heavy the rain is going on in the area:
- Blue / green — The rain is very light or clouds without significant rain
- Green — Light rain (0-5 mm / hour)
- Yellow / dark green — Medium rain (5-20 mm / hour)
- Orange — Heavy rain (20-50 mm / hour) — The potential puddle is starting to be significant.
- Red — Very heavy rain (50-100 mm / hour) — flood risk and avalanche increased.
- Purple / dark red — Extreme rain (> 100 mm / hour) — Dangerous conditions, heavy connective storms.
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- BMKG website — bmkg.go.id / weather / radar — select the nearest radar station
- BMKG Info Application — Weather Radar Menu — last hour's radar animation display
- Cuaca.in — Indonesian weather map reality-time that combines BMKG radar data
- Rain Viewer / Windy — International applications that also display Indonesian radar data
The difference between the Weather Radar and Satellite Images
Weather radar and satellite imagery are often considered the same — It's very different. The weather radar emits electromagnetic waves from the ground and catches reflections from the water pellets in the clouds, so it can detect precision rainfall and even measure wind speeds in the clouds. Satellite images instead capture images from space down — could see the entire cloud system but could not directly measure the intensity of rain with the same accuracy.
For daily weather monitoring, the combination is the best approach. Watch too Today's weather and 7-day forecast We're here for the full weather information.
General Question about Weather Radar
How much weather radar does BMKG have?
BMKG operates over 34 weather radar types of C-band Doppler that spread across Indonesia. — from Banda Aceh at the west end to Jayapura in Papua. The radar coverage still has a crack in the remote area of Papua, Borough Kalimantan, and some of my outermost China. BMKG continues to add weather radar networks to expand early warning coverage.
How accurate is the BMKG weather radar?
The BMKG weather radar is very accurate for weather conditions that are already happening in a 200-250-km radius of radar location. Accuration is decreasing for distant areas of radar or blocked topography of mountains. For future predictions, the BMKG numeric forecast is still the primary reference because radar only displays reality-time conditions.
Is that Doppler weather radar?
Doppler weather radar not only measures the location and intensity of the rain, but also the speed and direction of the water pellets in the clouds using the Doppler effect — radar wave frequency changes due to target movement. It allows cloud rotation detection, wind flow in the storm, and the speed of the rain system movement. All of the BMKG's C-band radar are Doppler types.
How do I use the weather radar for security activity?
Open the last hour's radar animation display to see the direction of the rain system. If the red area moves towards your location at a certain speed, you can estimate when the rain will come. The red unmoving area is more dangerous because of high accumulative intensity. — This is what often triggers flood floods and landslides.
Can weather radar detect earthquakes or tsunamis?
No. — Weather radar only detects atmospheric phenomena. Earthquake and tsunamis detected by seismometer and sea wave sensors (tide gauge, DART buoy) which is a separate system from the BMKG weather radar network. For earthquake and tsunami warnings, use BMKG and InateWS.
Understand weather radar Indonesia is a very valuable ability for safety and better weather planning. Keep monitoring Today's weather and reality-time weather map We are.
