Rainfalls in Bandung Result from BMKG's Weather Modification Operation

BANDUNG, KOMPAS.com - The recent rainfall over Bandung city and its surrounding areas is linked to the Weather Modification Operation (OMC) conducted by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in collaboration with Perum Jasa Tirta II.

This operation aims to optimize naturally occurring rain clouds to increase rainfall in water catchment areas.

The targeted sites include three strategic reservoirs in West Java: Saguling, Cirata, and Jatiluhur.

The OMC in parts of West Java started on Friday (September 18, 2026) and is scheduled to continue until Tuesday (September 22, 2026).

Bayu Prayoga, BMKG Weather Modification Operation Supervisor from the Deputy Agency of Weather Modification, explained that the operation utilizes the growth of rain clouds present in the target areas.

"The rainfall generated is expected to help boost water supplies to rivers and strategic reservoirs such as Saguling, Cirata, and Jatiluhur, thereby supporting raw water availability during the dry season," Bayu said in a phone interview on Sunday (September 20, 2026).

According to Bayu, the cloud seeding locations are determined by assessing the presence of developing clouds around the reservoirs.

Within two days of the operation, rain has reportedly fallen in several targeted reservoir areas.

"By God’s grace, in these two days, rain has occurred in the reservoir zones. Hopefully, this can add water volume to those reservoirs," he stated.

Nonetheless, conducting OMC during the dry season faces challenges due to the limited availability of clouds suitable for seeding.

Cloud availability is a crucial factor for the operation's success in producing rain.

"During the current dry season, OMC takes advantage of rain opportunities within certain periods to maximize rainfall as additional water for the reservoirs, which can then be used for water needs," Bayu added.

Besides West Java, BMKG also carries out weather modification in the Jakarta area and its surroundings.

BMKG Chief Secretary Guswanto said the operations in Jakarta and West Java are managed from separate command posts.

"So over three days, September 18–20, BMKG conducted weather modification programs. The first was for DKI Jakarta. The other, for West Java, is based at Husein Sastranegara, while in Jakarta the basecamp is at Pondok Cabe," Guswanto told reporters on Sunday (September 20, 2026).