The high season for vacations in Bali is here, but has anyone else noticed it hasn’t been super warm this past week?
Locals in several areas of Bali have experienced cooler-than-usual temperatures over the past few days, and the team at the Bali Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency has spoken to reporters about why this is happening.
Not only is it the high season for vacations in Bali, but we are now well and truly into the dry season. The rainy season in Bali was one of the worst in living memory, and while we’re all happy to see the end of the rain, the dry season brings about a whole heap of issues of its own.
Which is why these cooler temperatures noted around Bali are creating something of a sweet spot for holidaymakers. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold…just right, some might say. But why is it feeling a little cooler than usual, especially at night and in the early mornings?
Weather forecaster at the Denpasar Region III Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BBMKG), I Wayan Gita Giriharta, told reporters the phenomenon of cooler air temperatures at night until morning is, in fact, a common condition during the peak of the dry season.
She shared, “The phenomenon of air temperatures feeling colder at night usually occurs during the peak dry season, namely June, July, and August.”
Giritarta explained that the cooler air pattern is influenced by the apparent annual movement of the sun and the activity of the Australian Monsoon.
During this period, the sun’s position is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the regions of Indonesia that lie south of the equator, including Bali, receive less sunlight. This is exacerbated by Australia experiencing winter, causing relatively high air pressure over the continent, which pushes cold air masses toward Indonesia, including Bali.
Giriharta explained, “The Australian continent is in the winter period, so there is a movement of cold air masses from Australia towards Indonesia, passing through Bali and the surrounding area.”
She also cited clear skies and lack of cloud cover as another reason for this wave of cooler days, noting “The sky tends to be clear with little cloud cover, resulting in the direct release of solar radiation heat into the atmosphere, making the air near the surface feel cooler, especially at night and in the morning.”
Temperatures have been seriously low, with the lowest temperature recorded this week in Kintamani Village at 13-degrees celsius. Nevertheless, the coastal regions have sat within a normal range of 19-24 degrees. The BMKG estimates that relatively cold air conditions at night and in the early mornings are still likely throughout June and into August.
For tourists traveling to Bali over the next few months, what does this mean for packing? Here at The Bali Sun, we always advise holidaymakers to add a couple of layers to their suitcase, especially if traveling to higher altitudes and inland regions like Kintamani to visit Mount Batur and Bedugul to enjoy Ulun Danu Beratan and Lake Beratan.
It’s always good to bring a few layers to keep warm in the evenings, especially if dining outdoors, wherever you are in Bali.
Along the coast, temperatures are expected to remain pretty normal for this time of year, in which case sun safety is a top priority.
Tourists should wear thin, cool layers to help protect their skin from sun exposure and high temperatures. Made Sudarma Yadnya, another forecaster from the BMKG Bali, has recently spoken to reporters about the risk of sunburn and UV exposure during the dry season in Bali.
He called on the public, especially holidaymakers, to make use of UV protective equipment such as sunscreen, hats, or umbrellas. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining fluid intake to avoid dehydration.
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