BMKG High-Seas Alerts Ease After Early-September Closures Near Komodo

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s weather agency has warned of high waves and strong winds around Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park in mid-September, but the latest official forecasts do not support a specific 2.7-metre wave warning for the area on 18–20 September 2026.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), early warnings for 9–11 September 2026 projected significant wave heights of around 1.5–3 metres and wind speeds of 20–30 knots in parts of the Sape Strait and waters near Komodo National Park, prompting temporary restrictions on tourist sailings by the Labuan Bajo Harbourmaster and Port Authority (KSOP). Subsequent BMKG marine forecasts for Labuan Bajo and the local port in the period 12–16 September showed generally lower seas, with most wave heights in the range of 0.1–1.5 metres and winds below 20 knots.

The frequently cited figure of 2.2–2.7 metres south of Padar Island comes from a BMKG maritime forecast issued in July 2025 rather than from a current September 2026 bulletin. In that earlier forecast, BMKG’s maritime station in Tenau, Kupang, warned that waves in the waters south of Padar could reach 2.2–2.7 metres on 9–12 July 2025, categorising those conditions as high for small vessels and open-deck boats.

High seas earlier in September 2026

KSOP Labuan Bajo introduced temporary closures of tourist sailings toward Pulau Komodo, Pulau Padar and several other sites on 9–10 September 2026 after BMKG warned of potentially dangerous seas. The Harbourmaster’s notices, reported by several Indonesian media outlets, stated that tourist boats to Komodo and Padar would be suspended due to forecast waves up to around 3 metres and strong winds in southern Sape Strait and nearby waters.

BMKG’s maritime station in Tenau, Kupang, supported the decision with data indicating that significant wave heights could reach 1.5–3 metres from 8–11 September, with winds increasing to 20–30 knots in the affected waters. KSOP also highlighted at least ten localities of concern, including Kelor Island, Batu Tiga, Selat Molo, Selat Padar, Loh Kima, Luwu, Kerangga, Mauwang, Tatawa and Siaba Kecil, citing strong currents, wind shear, high waves and navigational hazards.

Additional reports mid-month noted that BMKG’s warnings were issued against a backdrop of several recent vessel incidents elsewhere in Indonesia, and that parts of the Labuan Bajo area are known for complex local currents that require caution from operators.

Conditions after 12–15 September

BMKG’s marine forecast for Labuan Bajo waters for 12–15 September 2026 indicated generally moderate conditions, with most time slots showing wave heights around 0.6 metres and only isolated periods where waves were expected to reach about 1.5 metres. A separate BMKG forecast for the Labuan Bajo port area from 13–16 September showed light to moderate winds and very low waves in the harbour approaches, often around 0.1 metres.

These later BMKG products suggest a gradual easing of the high seas that triggered closures earlier in the month, with wave heights mostly below BMKG’s threshold for “high” waves of 2.5–4 metres. None of the available BMKG materials or KSOP statements for September 2026 independently confirm a new specific warning of 2.7-metre waves around Labuan Bajo or the southern Komodo waters on 18–20 September.

Advisories for small vessels

BMKG’s classification system defines “medium” waves as 1.25–2.5 metres, “high” waves as 2.5–4 metres, and higher categories above that. In practice, Indonesian maritime authorities have treated waves above roughly 1.5 metres combined with strong winds as hazardous for small fishing vessels and open-deck tourist boats, especially in semi-open waters like those south of Padar or in the southern reaches of Sape Strait.

BMKG and KSOP continue to advise skippers, fishermen and tourism operators to monitor the latest official marine forecasts and harbourmaster notices for Labuan Bajo, rather than relying on older figures from July 2025 or on early warnings that applied only to 9–11 September 2026. As of the mid-September forecasts, the data point to improving sea conditions, but operators are still urged to exercise caution, particularly in known high-risk channels and exposed southern waters.

Sources

• BMKG Maritime – Perairan Labuan Bajo forecast
• CNN Indonesia – Waspadai Gelombang Tinggi, KSOP Labuan Bajo Tutup Pelayaran TN Komodo
• Media Indonesia – Gelombang Tinggi Mengancam, KSOP Tutup Sementara Pelayaran Wisata ke TN Komodo
• Swara Teritori – Waspadai Gelombang Tinggi, KSOP Labuan Bajo Tutup Sementara Pelayaran ke TN Komodo
• IDN Times – Pelayaran ke Pulau Padar dan Komodo Ditutup pada 9–10 September 2026
• Suara Surabaya – Labuan Bajo Diterpa Gelombang Tinggi, BMKG Peringatkan Nelayan dan Wisatawan
• Okezone – Tragedi Kapal Tenggelam Beruntun, BMKG Imbau Waspadai Gelombang dan Selalu Pantau Cuaca