TD ‘Ester’ to exit PAR, improved weather expected

Tropical depression “Ester” (international name: Gaemi) has crossed over mainland Taiwan and just a few remained inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday.

Weather specialist Obet Badrina said that as of 5 p.m. Friday, Ester was spotted 295 kilometers north of Basco, Batanes.

Packing winds of 60 kph and gusts of up to 90 kph, Ester continues to move at a direction of north northwest.

While Ester did not have a direct effect on the country, it has continued to enhance the effects of “habagat,” and concentrated on northern and western portions of Luzon.

Monsoon rains will be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan group of islands, Ilocos, Cordillera regions, as well as the province of Pampanga, Zambales and Bataan in Central Luzon.

Pagasa said Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the rest of Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon regions will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate or at times heavy rains.

By late Friday evening or early Saturday morning, Ester is expected to have exited the PAR, causing the country to experience improved but cloudy weather during the weekend, Badrina said.

Gale warning has been issued over the northern, western and eastern seaboards of Luzon. Smaller crafts are advised not to sail out to sea. /jpv

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