A NEW tropical depression named Ester was spotted off Batanes province Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

“Ester” is enhancing the southwest monsoon, which has been bringing heavy rains in most parts of Luzon since last week, according to Pagasa.

Ester was estimated based at 320 kilometers north northwest of Basco, Batanes as of 3:00 a.m., a weather bulletin from Pagasa said Friday.

Ester has maximum winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h. It is moving northeast at 13 km/h.

“Ester” is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday night or Saturday morning, said Ezra Bulquerin, Pagasa weather specialist, said at a press briefing early Friday.

“Ester” could become a tropical storm as it moves outside the Philippine area of responsibility, said Bulquerin.

In its 8 a.m. heavy rainfall warning update, Pagasa said heavy rains with lightning and strong winds due to thunderstorms are expected over Metro Manila, provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, and Batangas in the next three hours.

The regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, provinces of Batanes, Babuyan Group of Islands, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales will continue to experience rainshowers.

Residents in these areas are warned against possible flooding or landslides.

Meanwhile, fishermen were advised against going out into the sea as coastal waters in northern Luzon and the western section of central Luzon will be rough to very rough.

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