Tropical Depression Ester leaves PAR; southwest monsoon affects much of Luzon

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Ester left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning, June 6, just a day after its entry.

As of 10 am on Saturday, Ester was already 550 kilometers north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The tropical depression is moving east northeast at 20 kilometers per hour, still with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

Ester only affected the country’s northernmost province of Batanes, bringing moderate to heavy rain and strong winds that reached Signal No. 1.

The tropical depression did not make landfall in the Philippines, as it headed for Taiwan after entering PAR on Friday, June 5. Taiwan is within PAR.

Ester, however, enhanced the southwest monsoon or habagat, which continues to trigger rain on Saturday.

Below is PAGASA’s latest rainfall outlook for the southwest monsoon, covering the next 48 hours.

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

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

Sunday noon, June 7, to Monday noon, June 8

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

On Saturday, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, the rest of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro are also seeing scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.

Affected areas must be on alert for possible floods and landslides.

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

Saturday, June 6

• Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley

Sunday, June 7

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands

In addition, certain seaboards remain dangerous for small vessels on Saturday.

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

• Seaboards of Batanes; northern seaboard of Babuyan Islands – 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; northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan; western seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island – waves up to 2 meters high

Ester was the Philippines’ fifth tropical cyclone for 2026, and the first for June. PAGASA expects up to two tropical cyclones to form within or enter PAR during the month.

The weather bureau declared the start of the rainy season last Thursday, June 4. – Rappler.com