The low pressure (LPA) east of extreme Northern Luzon developed Friday, July 29, into a tropical depression and was named Ester—the country’s fifth tropical cyclone for 2022, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
As of 3 p.m., PAGASA estimated the location of tropical depression Ester at 845 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon.
It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Meanwhile, it was moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
PAGASA said Ester’s landfall is not expected but it may enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat” and bring rains over some parts of Luzon and Visayas in the next few days.
In the next 24 hours, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail over Bicol Region, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon.
PAGASA advised these areas to stay vigilant as “moderate to at times heavy rains” may trigger flash floods or landslides.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the habagat and localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA also warned against flash floods or landslides that may occur during severe thunderstorms, which are often accompanied by sudden heavy rains, lightning, thunder, gusty winds, and sometimes hail.