PAGASA: Cyclone Ester unlikely to hit land

Tropical depression "Ester" on Saturday slowed down as it continued heading for the tip of northern Luzon, with state weather forecasters still urging caution even as they doubt if the weather disturbance would hit land. PAGASA forecaster Mario Palafox said in a press conference that Ester was spotted at 8 a.m. some 160 kilometers southeast of Basco, Batanes. Ester packed maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and was moving west-northwest at 11 kph. "Sa direksyon niya ngayon, mukhang hindi siya tatama sa kalupaan although lumalapit siya sa Batanes (With its current direction, it seems that Ester will not hit land)," Palafox said. He said that Ester continues to pose a threat to northern Luzon, while the southwest monsoon remains enhanced as an effect of Ester. "Pero sa ngayon, hindi na natin nakikitaan na lalakas pa itong si Ester (For now, we don't think that Ester will increase in strength)," Palafox added. "Hindi gaano malawak pa ang kanyang cloud cover. Ngunit dahil sa southwest monsoon, nagbibigay ng ulan ito sa kanlurang bahagi ng bansa," he said. (Ester isn't bringing that much cloud cover, but it continues to affect the southwest monsoon, which is bringing rains to the western part of the country) On Sunday morning, Ester is expected to be 110 km west of Basco, Batanes, and may be out of the country by Monday. A Storm Warning Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over ten areas in northern Luzon, including Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Northern Isabela, Batanes, Babuyan, and Calayan Island. Palafox said that the storm warning might remain placed in these areas until Sunday. Ester is the fifth tropical cyclone to hit the country, and Palafox said that three to four storms usually visit the Philippine during August. - TJD, GMANews.TV