Jakarta. Indonesia’s weather agency BMKG has forecast light rain across parts of Jakarta beginning Saturday afternoon, with precipitation expected to intensify into the evening as unstable weather patterns persist across the country.

BMKG said light rain is likely to fall in West and South Jakarta during the afternoon, while Central, East, and North Jakarta are expected to remain under thick cloud cover.

Rainfall is forecast to become more widespread at night, with moderate rain likely in West and South Jakarta and lighter showers in other parts of the capital. In the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu), light rain is expected in the morning, followed by cloudy skies in the afternoon and moderate rainfall later in the evening.

In Greater Jakarta's surrounding areas, Bekasi and Depok are expected to see overcast skies from morning through the afternoon, with moderate rain arriving at night. Bogor may experience light rain from the afternoon through the evening after a cloudy start to the day, while Tangerang is forecast to transition from morning cloud cover to light afternoon rain and moderate showers at night.

BMKG urged residents to remain cautious, particularly in the evening when rain intensity may disrupt mobility in high-traffic areas. The agency advised the public to adjust travel and outdoor plans in response to rapidly changing weather conditions.

Lightning and Strong Winds

Separately, BMKG issued an early warning for potential moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong winds in several major cities nationwide on Saturday.

Weather forecaster Alya Sausan said convergence zones stretching across parts of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua are contributing to increased cloud formation and rainfall.

“These conditions heighten the potential for significant rain cloud growth along convergence areas,” Alya said.

Cities including Pangkal Pinang, Nabire, and Merauke face the highest risk of heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and strong winds. Meanwhile, light to moderate rain is expected in other major urban centers such as Pekanbaru, Padang, Palembang, Bandar Lampung, Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Jayapura.

Several cities, including Banda Aceh, Medan, Surabaya, Denpasar, and Makassar, are forecast to remain mostly cloudy.

BMKG also noted that parts of Indonesia remain in a transitional period between the rainy and dry seasons, contributing to fluctuating weather patterns. In Jambi, officials have warned that a potential strong El Niño event could lead to a longer dry season later this year.

Authorities continue to call on residents to stay alert for extreme weather risks, including heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds, and to take preventive measures to mitigate potential disruptions and hazards.