January 23, 2026 | 03:31 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued an early warning for high waves that are potentially to occur in several Indonesian waters from January 23 to 26, 2026.
BMKG forecaster Samuel Adiprabowo stated that the former Tropical Cyclone Nokaen (16.0 North Latitude 134.0 East Longitude) in the northeastern Philippine Sea and the seed of Tropical Cyclone 97S (12.5 South Latitude 121.2 East Longitude) in the southern Indian Ocean near NTT have triggered an increase in wind speed and high waves in Indonesian waters.
He mentioned that wind patterns in northern Indonesia generally move from northwest to northeast, with speeds ranging from 6 to 25 knots. In southern Indonesia, wind patterns generally move from west to northwest, with speeds ranging from 6 to 30 knots.
"The highest wind speed was recorded in the North Natuna Sea, the southern Indian Ocean off Java, the southern Indian Ocean off NTT, the northern Pacific Ocean off Maluku," he said in a written statement on Friday, January 23, 2026.
These conditions have led to an increase in waves ranging from 1.25-2.5 meters in the western Indian Ocean off the Mentawai Islands, the western Indian Ocean off Nias Island, the northern part of the Karimata Strait, the southern part of the Karimata Strait, the western part of the Java Sea, the middle part of the Java Sea, the eastern part of the Java Sea, the Flores Sea, the Bali Sea, the Sumbawa Sea, the Bone Gulf, the southern part of the Makassar Strait, the middle part of the Makassar Strait, the northern part of the Makassar Strait, the eastern part of the Sulawesi Sea, the northern Pacific Ocean off West Papua, the northern Pacific Ocean off Papua, the Seram Sea, the Banda Sea, and the central Arafuru Sea.
Meanwhile, higher waves in the range of 2.5-4.0 meters are likely to occur in the northern part of the Malacca Strait, the western Indian Ocean off Aceh, the western Indian Ocean off Bengkulu, the western Indian Ocean off Lampung, the southern Indian Ocean off Yogyakarta, the southern Indian Ocean off Banten, the southern Indian Ocean off West Java, the southern Indian Ocean off Central Java, the southern Indian Ocean off East Java, the southern Indian Ocean off Bali, the southern Indian Ocean off NTB, the North Natuna Sea, the Maluku Sea, the northern Pacific Ocean off Maluku, the southwestern Pacific Ocean off Southwest Papua, the Sawu Sea, the western Arafuru Sea, and the eastern Arafuru Sea. "As for very high waves in the range of 4.0-6.0 meters, they are likely to occur in the southern Indian Ocean off NTT," he added.
Samuel stated that the potential for high waves in these areas could pose a risk to maritime safety. Therefore, the BMKG urges the public, especially fishermen who use fishing boats, to be cautious and avoid wind speeds of more than 15 knots and wave heights above 1.25 meters.
For barges, they are advised to be cautious of wind speeds of more than 16 knots and wave heights above 1.5 meters. For ferries, they are advised to avoid wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 meters. "We urge residents living and working in coastal areas with a high chance of high waves to always stay alert," he said.
Read: BMKG: Jakarta Remains on Alert for Very Heavy Rain Today
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