By Brian Campued
Batanes was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 on Friday as the low pressure area (LPA) northwest of the province developed into Tropical Depression Ester.
Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 11:00 a.m., Ester was located 230 km north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes.
The tropical depression packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It is moving northeastward at 15 kph.
“Yung direktang epekto nitong si Bagyong Ester ay nandito sa may parteng Extreme Northern Luzon, dito sa may Batanes at sa halos buong Taiwan. Asahan yung pabugso-bugsong hangin at minsang malalakas na mga pag-ulan,” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said in a public briefing.
Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible within any of the areas under TCWS No. 1, according to PAGASA. Residents may begin experiencing strong winds from Ester within 36 hours upon the issuance of the state weather bureau’s bulletin.
Meanwhile, Ester as well as the southwest monsoon (habagat) will dump heavy to intense rains in La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales, and moderate to heavy rains over Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet, and Bataan between Friday and Saturday noon (June 6).
“Kapag kayo ay nasa mababang lugar, mas mataas yung tiyansa na yung mga galing sa bundok na mga pag-ulan ay bababa sa inyong lugar at magko-cause ng mas mataas na mga pagbaha,” Estareja said.
“Kaya mag-ingat sa mga flash floods, sa pag-apaw ng mga kailugan, at sa banta din ng landslides,” he added.
No Gale Warning has yet been issued due to the tropical cyclone, but up to rough seas ranging from 3 to 4 meters may be experienced in the seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur within the next 24 hours.
“Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motor bancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced of operating ill-equipped vessels,” PAGASA said.
Based on the track forecast, Ester will move northeastward and traverse the rugged terrain of Taiwan on Friday while maintaining its strength.
Ester may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning and traverse the East China Sea, where it may intensify into a tropical storm.
“Paglabas ng PAR nitong si Bagyong Ester bukas ng madaling araw, tatanggalin na rin natin yung Wind Signal No. 1 sa Batanes,” Estareja said.
-jpv
