BMKG sees low waves, haze at West Kalimantan ports

PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com– The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecasts mostly low waves at nine West Kalimantan ports from Friday, September 18, through Sunday, September 20. Its outlook also shows hazy conditions at several locations.

BMKG’s Dwikora Maritime Meteorological Station updated the forecast on September 17. It covers Kijing International Port, Rasau Jaya, Sukabangun, Kendawangan, Teluk Batang, Sungai Rengas, Padang Tikar, Pemangkat and Tebas Kuala. 

It gives passengers, fishers and vessel operators a basis for checking local conditions before departure.

Across the port charts, most predicted wave heights range from 0.1 to 0.5 meters. There is one exception at Sukabangun Port. BMKG forecasts waves of 0.5 to 1.25 meters at 7 p.m. on September 18. 

The charts do not, by themselves, establish conditions along an entire voyage, where vessels may encounter different weather offshore.

Visibility deserves attention even where waves remain low. BMKG forecasts fog at Kijing on September 19 and hazy air there on September 20. Its charts show hazy conditions on both days at several other ports, including Rasau Jaya, Kendawangan, Teluk Batang and Pemangkat. 

The images do not provide numerical visibility distances. Therefore, they cannot support a claim that a particular port will meet—or fall below—an operational visibility threshold.

Wind may also vary sharply by location and hour. At Kendawangan, the September 18 chart shows a gust of up to 23 knots at 4 p.m. Even so, the forecasted wave heights there are expected to stay within the 0.1–0.5-meter range. 

Operators should consider local wind, currents and visibility together rather than relying on wave height alone. BMKG likewise identifies weather, wind, waves and surface currents as relevant factors in maritime-safety assessments.

The supplied forecast cover says the broader bulletin is valid from 7 a.m. on September 18 to 7 a.m. on September 21. However, the individual port charts provided show daily summaries only through September 20. 

Travelers should consult the latest BMKG port forecast for updates closer to their departure. This information is particularly important if haze affects visibility or conditions change after this bulletin.

For now, the outlook points to generally low waves near the listed ports, with localized exceptions and possible visibility concerns. It does not guarantee safe passage on every route or at every hour.