MANILA: The low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has intensified into Tropical Depression Ester early Friday (June 5), which prompted the state weather bureau to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over northern Batanes province.
In its latest weather briefing, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ester was spotted at 3 a.m. some 225 kilometres west of Itbayat, Batanes.
The tropical depression has a maximum sustained wind speed of 45 kilometres per hour (kph) near the centre with gusts of up to 55 kph while moving north-east at 20 kph.
“In Batanes, expect possible strong wind gusts and heavy rains brought by Tropical Depression Ester,” Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said in Filipino.
Ester, according to Pagasa, is forecast to move toward Taiwan and may make landfall over the its southern part later on Friday.
“It is possible that by Saturday morning, it will already be outside the Philippine area of responsibility,” Badrina added.
“Habagat“ effect
Meanwhile, Pagasa said the southwest monsoon or “habagat” continues to affect parts of western Luzon, bringing occasional rains particularly to the Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet and Zambales.
In Metro Manila, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected.
Meanwhile, generally fair weather is expected in other areas of the country with chances of localised rainshowers and thunderstorms in the afternoon until evening.
Rainy season on
Pagasa also reminded the public that the onset of the rainy season was officially declared on Thursday.
Hence, more frequent rains areexpected in the coming months, particularly in western Luzon and parts of the Visayas. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
