‘Ester’ gains strength, moves closer to northern RP

Cyclone “Ester" gained strength as it continues to move closer to the northern part of the Philippines, the country’s weather bureau said on Saturday. Ester was last spotted 100 kilometers southeast of Basco, Batanes, with stronger maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center, according to a weather bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) released 5 p.m. Saturday. The cyclone is moving west northwest at 11 kph and is forecast to be 11 kilometers west northwest of Basco, Batanes on Sunday afternoon, PAGASA said. PAGASA earlier said that Ester is unlikely to hit land, although it will continue to bring rains to northern Luzon. (See: PAGASA: Cyclone Ester unlikely to hit land) 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. Ester is the fifth tropical cyclone to hit the country. PAGASA said two to three more storms are expected to visit the Philippines this August.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV