Bali keeps drought watch as dry season and low rainfall persist

Denpasar — Bali remains in its dry season, and the provincial disaster agency is urging residents to conserve water and reduce fire risks as meteorological drought warnings remain in place for the second ten-day period of September, according to the Bali Regional Disaster Management Agency and BMKG.

In an advisory published on Sept. 10 and reported by local media on Sept. 11, the Bali agency said there is a warning for meteorological drought during Sept. 11-20, 2026, while no heavy-rain alert is in effect for the province during the same period. BMKG’s analysis for early September also showed Bali among areas with low rainfall and below-normal rainfall patterns in the first ten days of the month.

The agency said Bali’s rainfall outlook for Sept. 11-13 pointed to light rain in Badung, Denpasar, Gianyar, Klungkung, Tabanan, Jembrana, Bangli, Karangasem and Buleleng. It added that the same areas could see light rain again later in the month, but that should not be interpreted as an end to the dry season, according to comments attributed to Bali BPBD head I Gede Teja.

Dry conditions expected to persist

BMKG’s climate analysis for the first ten-day period of September said rainfall across Indonesia was dominated by low totals, and that Bali was included in areas expected to stay in the low-rainfall category in the following ten-day periods. The agency also said the country was still under the influence of very strong El Niño conditions, which were helping to sustain drier weather.

BMKG’s latest climate analysis said the Niño 3.4 sea-surface temperature anomaly in September remained strongly positive, while the three-month ENSO index indicated El Niño conditions. In a separate weather outlook, BMKG said Bali was among the regions where rainfall in the second and third ten-day periods of September, and the first ten days of October, would generally remain in the low category.

Teja urged households to use water efficiently and follow weather and disaster updates from BMKG and the provincial disaster agency. He also warned against burning land or waste, discarding cigarette butts near flammable material, and leaving incense or electrical equipment unattended, according to the Bali BPBD statement.

The advisory comes as Bali continues to navigate dry-season risks that can affect households, agriculture and tourism facilities. BMKG’s outlook places much of Indonesia’s south, including Bali, in a period of reduced rainfall through late September.

Sources

• BMKG - Analisis Dinamika Atmosfer Dasarian I September 2026
• BPBD Provinsi Bali - Peringatan Dini Cuaca/Iklim Dasarian II September 2026 Provinsi Bali
• Bali Post - Dasarian II September, Bali Masih Periode Musim Kemarau