BMKG warns of up to 1.9-metre waves in Komodo National Park waters

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s meteorological agency forecast moderate seas with waves up to around 1.9 metres in the waters of Komodo National Park between 15 and 18 September 2026, warning small vessels and tour operators to exercise caution and follow instructions from local authorities.

The marine forecast page for Komodo National Park waters on the BMKG maritime website lists the validity period from 15 September 2026 at 00.00 local time to 18 September 2026 at 00.00, with a general warning that waves could reach about 1.9 metres and that mariners should heed guidance from local officials.

At the start of the period, BMKG’s detailed hourly forecast for 00.00 WITA on Tuesday, 15 September, shows fair to partly cloudy conditions, air temperature around 26 degrees Celsius and relative humidity near 78 percent. Wind was forecast from the east at 12 knots, with sudden gusts up to 19 knots, and a southwesterly current of about 1.6 knots. Significant wave height at that hour was listed at about 1.7 metres, categorized as a moderate sea state by BMKG.

The agency’s forecast table indicates that conditions were expected to vary through the day. After midnight on 15 September, forecast winds strengthened, with BMKG listing speeds of 15 knots at 01.00 WITA and 18 knots at several subsequent hours, while maximum gusts could reach roughly 26 knots in the early morning. Wave heights were forecast between about 1.6 and 1.8 metres for much of the morning, rising toward 1.9 metres around late morning before gradually easing toward roughly 1.5 metres by late afternoon and evening.

BMKG’s hourly data also show shifts in wind direction over the course of 15 September. During the day, winds were expected to veer from east to northeast and southeast, with one afternoon period around 14.00 WITA showing southeasterly winds near 12 knots, gusts around 21 knots and waves close to 1.7 metres. These variations mean that sea conditions along specific routes in Komodo waters could differ from the overall park forecast at any given time.

BMKG’s separate high-wave warning for 15–18 September 2026 highlights the broader risk pattern across Nusa Tenggara waters, including Komodo National Park. According to that warning, higher wind speeds in areas such as Selat Sape, the Flores Sea, Laut Sawu and nearby straits were expected to contribute to increased wave heights, with Komodo waters among the zones identified for potential moderate seas. The national marine forecast classification table defines moderate waves in the range of roughly 1.25 to 2.5 metres.

Earlier in the month, authorities had already responded to adverse conditions by restricting tourist sailings. The Labuan Bajo harbourmaster’s office (KSOP Kelas III Labuan Bajo) temporarily closed tourist voyages to Komodo and Padar islands from 13 to 15 September 2026, citing BMKG warnings of waves that could reach 1.9 metres accompanied by strong winds. Local media report that while trips to Rinca Island were still permitted with appropriate clearance, voyages to Padar and parts of Komodo National Park were suspended during the closure.

For operators and visitors, BMKG’s figures underscore that wind speed, gusts, wave height and currents can shift within a single day, affecting comfort and safety along popular routes between Labuan Bajo and islands such as Komodo, Padar and Rinca. Marine users are advised by BMKG to monitor the latest forecast updates and heed local harbour and park authorities before departure, rather than relying solely on earlier outlooks.

Passengers preparing to sail in Komodo National Park waters during mid-September 2026 were encouraged to verify whether itineraries had been adjusted in response to changing conditions and to treat warnings of waves around 1.9 metres as a prompt to seek current information on specific anchorages and passages. BMKG’s forecast pages do not record whether individual operators cancelled or altered trips but clearly mark the forecast period and associated sea-state guidance for the area.

Sources

• Perairan Taman Nasional Komodo - Prakiraan Cuaca Maritim - BMKG
• KSOP Labuan Bajo Tutup Sementara Pelayaran ke Pulau Komodo dan Padar
• KSOP Labuan Bajo Tutup Pelayaran Wisata Komodo Akibat Gelombang Tinggi