REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Low intensity El Nino is predicted to hit Indonesia in July, a climatologist said.

Central and eastern parts of the country will likely be the hardest hit by the weather phenomenon, climatology deputy at the Meteorology and Geophysics office Widada Sulistya said.

"If the intensity is high the impact could even all over the country as in 1997," Widada said here on Tuesday.

He said the impact of El Nino which has been felt globally is not the same in all areas.

In Indonesia the impact could result in less rainfall, he said, adding until mid June there had no impact of El Nino in the country.

He said there is no cause for concern and getting panic in facing El Nino.

However, he warned farmers who live in areas that could face long drought to start taking precautionary steps such as to be economical in water and grow crops that do not need much water.

He said the impact of El Nino would depend on the intensity of the weather phenomenon, the sea temperature and supply of water steam from the Indian Ocean .

Meanwhile, head of the climate dissemination of the agency Marjuki said Central and Eastern Indonesia tend to have less rainfall compared with Western Indonesia because their proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

Drought would likely be longer in Central and Eastern parts of the country, Marjuki said.

He said the intensity of El Nino is predicted to be from low to moderate.

The impact would begin to be felt after August until November, he said.

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