Tropical Depression Ester enters PAR, affects Batanes

MANILA, Philippines – A low pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility developed into a tropical depression at 2 am on Friday, June 5, then entered PAR at 3 am.

It has been given the local name Ester, as the country’s fifth tropical cyclone for 2026. It is also the first tropical cyclone for June.

As of 10 am on Friday, Ester was located 230 kilometers north northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The tropical depression is moving northeast at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h), and crossing the southern portion of Taiwan. Taiwan is inside PAR, given its proximity to extreme Northern Luzon.

Ester has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

The northernmost province of Batanes has been under Signal No. 1 since 5 am on Friday, which means it will have strong winds from the tropical depression.

Batanes is also facing moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters) due to Ester on Friday.

In addition, the tropical depression is enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat, which is the source of rain for the rest of Northern Luzon, parts of Central Luzon, and parts of Southern Luzon.

Here is PAGASA’s rainfall outlook for the southwest monsoon:

Friday noon, June 5, to Saturday noon, June 6

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet, Bataan

Saturday noon, June 6, to Sunday noon, June 7

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales

On Friday, the rest of Cagayan Valley, the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro are expected to have scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon as well.

Floods and landslides are possible in areas affected by the southwest monsoon.

The southwest monsoon is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Friday, June 5

• Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Aurora , Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro

Saturday, June 6

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro

Sunday, June 7

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Abra, Apayao, Zambales

In the next 24 hours, both Ester and the southwest monsoon will affect some of the country’s seaboards.

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Western seaboard of Batanes – waves up to 4 meters high
• Western seaboard of Babuyan Islands; northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Batanes and Ilocos Norte; seaboard of Ilocos Sur – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands; western seaboards of La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Isabela; western seaboards of Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island – waves up to 2 meters high

Ester may already exit PAR by early Saturday morning, June 6. Outside PAR, it could strengthen into a tropical storm over the East China Sea.

Ester’s entry comes after PAGASA declared the start of the rainy season on Thursday, June 4. – Rappler.com