The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Tropical Depression Ester, combined with the southwest monsoon or 'habagat,' will bring heavy rainfall to several provinces in Northern Luzon. In an 11 a.m. advisory on Friday, June 5, 2026, the weather bureau identified the affected areas as La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet, and Bataan.
PAGASA urged local disaster risk reduction and management offices to implement necessary measures to safeguard life and property. Tropical Depression Ester maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness reaching up to 55 kilometers per hour. The storm was last located 230 kilometers north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northeastward at 15 kilometers per hour.
Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes, where strong winds are expected to persist. Additionally, strong to gale-force gusts due to the southwest monsoon are anticipated across the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro.
PAGASA forecasts that Ester will continue moving northeastward on Friday and is likely to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday.
