THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Saturday announced that Tropical Depression Ester has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Ester exited the PAR at 8 a.m., according to the weather bureau Pagasa.
Despite that, the southwest monsoon, or habagat, will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley.
Pagasa said, “Ester is forecast to move generally northeastward over the East China Sea while maintaining its strength. Ester is expected to intensify as it moves toward southern Japan.”
As of this bulletin, the center of Ester was 550 kilometers north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving east-northeastward at 20 km per hour (kph).
It had maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph.
On Friday, Signal No. 1 was raised over Batanes, and as of Saturday, no storm wind signals were hoisted.
