Metro Manila, Philippines – Tropical Depression Ester maintained its strength as it moved northwest of Batanes, the weather bureau said on Friday, June 5.
In its 11:00 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over Batanes.
Ester was last located 230 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes.
The tropical depression showed signs of deceleration over the last few hours, dropping to 15 kilometers per hour (kph) from its previous 20 kph. It packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
While Ester traverses the northern boundary of the country, PAGASA warned that the southwest monsoon (habagat) will continue to bring heavy rainfall across parts of Luzon over the weekend:
Friday, June 5: Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Aurora , Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro
Saturday, June 6: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and Occidental Mindoro
Sunday, June 7: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Abra, Apayao, and Zambales
Ester is forecast to make landfall over the southwestern coast of Taiwan today before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning.
