Tropical Depression Ester exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on the morning of June 6 without making landfall. The system enhanced the southwest monsoon, bringing rain and strong winds to parts of Luzon.
As of 10 a.m. on June 6, Ester was located 550 kilometers north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. It moved east-northeast at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gusts up to 55 km/h. The depression only brought moderate to heavy rain and strong winds to Batanes, reaching Signal No. 1. It entered the PAR on June 5 and headed toward Taiwan. The enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, caused scattered rain and thunderstorms across the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and other areas. Authorities warned of possible floods and landslides. Ester was the fifth tropical cyclone to affect the country in 2026 and the first in June. The rainy season began on June 4.
