'Ester' out of Phl but rainy June 12th due to Habagat

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Depression "Ester" will no longer affect the country but the southwest monsoon or "Habagat" will still dump rains over parts of Luzon this Independence Day, the state weather bureau said on Thursday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ester gained more strength but it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday night.

In an advisory issued before noon, PAGASA said the Habagat is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains over the Batanes group of Islands, Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands, regions of Ilocos and Cordillera and over the provinces of Bataan, Zambales and Pampanga.

"Residents in these areas and local disaster risk reduction management councils concerned are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures against possible flashfloods and landslides," the weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience occasional rains.

PAGASA said in its 24-hour weather forecast that the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds coming from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Light to moderate winds coming from the southwest will prevail over Visayas and from the south to southwest over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas.