Report: La Nina to stay in Indonesia until March

The Jakarta Post | Fri, 01/09/2009 6:02 PM 

 

A forecast by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that Indonesia will remain affected by La Nina conditions until at least March.

 

"Based on current observations, recent trends and model forecasts, La Nina conditions are likely to continue into the Northern Hemisphere's spring of 2009," a NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC) statement said, as quoted by state news agency Antara on Friday.

 

The CPC said the impact of the La Nina development, which came unusually late for those in the northern hemisphere, would include above-average precipitation across Indonesia.

 

As it is located on the equator, Indonesia feels the impact of climate developments from both the northern and southern hemispheres.

 

The impact of La Nina will include an increase on Indonesia's already high rate of rainfall.

 

A separate report from Jakarta's meteorology and geophysics agency confirmed the CPC report, saying that some parts of the city are likely to suffer from flooding until February.

 

So far, the water level remains safely below the normal level of floodgates across the capital. (emh)