Pagasa cancels storm signal over Batanes as ‘Ester’ slows down

From Pagasa website

Storm signal in Batanes was lifted early Friday, the state weather bureau said.

Tropical Depression “Ester” has also slightly slowed down and is expected to be out of the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) added.

Based on the latest Pagasa bulletin, Ester was last spotted 320 kilometers north northwest of Basco, Batanes – packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, and moving northeast at 13 kph.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said the southwest monsoon continues to affect Luzon.

For this, Ilocos region, Cordillera, Batanes, Babuyan Group of Islands, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales could expect a rainy Friday.

On the other hand, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, rest of Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon would have overcast skies with light to moderate rain and isolated rain.

Bicol region, Visayas, and Mindanao would experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain, Pagasa also said.   /kga