TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Storm signal no. 1 has been lifted in Batanes province as Tropical Depression “Ester” slightly slowed down on Friday dawn, June 15, the state weather bureau said.
As of 5 AM Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ester was located approximately 325 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes.
PAGASA said Ester has reached the vicinity of southern Taiwan, still within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Ester has maximum winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h. Moving Northeast at 13 km/h.
The tropical depression will enhance the southwest monsoon that is already giving heavy rains in Luzon.
Ester is expected to be 785 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes by tomorrow morning.
PAGASA said possible flooding or landslides due to moderate to occasional heavy rains are expected in Batanes, Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms which can cause flooding in low lying areas are expected in the rest of Cagayan Valley, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Central Luzon, PAGASA added.
“Residents of the aforementioned areas, especially those living near or in low-lying and mountainous areas, are advised to take appropriate actions against possible floodings and landslides, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates,” state weather bureau said.
Meanwhile, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers cause by localized thunderstorms are forecast in the Bicol Region, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Further, PAGASA noted that sea travel was “risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon.” Northernforum.net
