Tropical depression “Ester” has slightly gained strength but remained nearly stationary southeast of Batanes province, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Saturday.

As of 4 p.m. on Saturday, Pagasa satellite show “Ester” at 100 kms southeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph).

“Ester” continues to move slowly at 11 kph west-northwest bound to the South China Sea.

It is expected to be 110 kms west northwest of Basco, Batanes this Sunday (August 8), and 400 kms west-north-west of Basco, Batanes Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Pagasa did not indicate that “Ester” will make landfall.

Storm warning Signal No. 1 is still up in 10 areas: Cagayan, Babuyan Island, Calayan Island, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Northern Isabela, and Batanes Group of Islands.

Pagasa said it is possible that "Ester" will enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over the western section of the country as it moves out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

It warned residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 and areas over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon and Western Visayas against possible flashfloods and landslides.

At 5 a.m. on Saturday, Pagasa also issued a gale warning for fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the sea due to strong winds associated with the surge of southwesterly surface windflow (hanging habagat) enhanced by “Ester.”

“Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the western seaboard of central Luzon, and the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas.”

Likewise, larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves due to the surge of southwesterly winds.

The areas under Signal No. 1 are expected to experience rains and gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

The rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with scattered to widespread rain showers over the western section, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

“Ester” is the second weather disturbance that visited the country this month, following “Domeng” whose effects were barely felt in the country.

Pagasa earlier said that three to four storms are expected to affect the country in August.

At the same time, it predicted the developing effects of La Niña weather phenomenon could be felt in the country this month.