Parts of Eastern Visayas have been placed under tropical cyclone wind signal number 2 as tropical depression Agaton intensified into a tropical storm on Sunday morning, April 10, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

Weather specialist Benison Estareja said Agaton has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It has moved closer to Eastern Samar, Estareja said. As of 4 a.m., the center of Agaton was over the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Due to Agaton’s proximity to land, Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the southern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Mercedes, Salcedo, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Llorente), extreme southern portion of Samar (Marabut), and northern portion of Dinagat Island (Loreto, Tubajon).

Signal No. 1 was also raised in the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Camotes Islands, Surigao del Norte, and the rest of Dinagat Island.

Heavy rains, strong winds, rough seas

PAGASA said Agaton will bring heavy to intense with occasional torrential rains over Eastern Visayas and Dinagat Island in the next 24 hours.

Moderate to heavy with occasional intense rains may also prevail over Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Bohol, and the northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, while light to moderate with occasional heavy rains may affect Masbate, Sorsogon, northern Mindanao, and the rest of Visayas and Caraga.

By Monday, April 11, moderate to heavy with occasional intense rains may persist in Eastern Visayas, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, and the northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, while light to moderate with occasional heavy rains may prevail over Masbate, Sorsogon, and the rest of Visayas and Caraga.

“Under these conditions and considering significant antecedent rainfall, scattered to widespread flooding (including flooding) and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” PAGASA warned.

Likewise, during the passage of Agaton, PAGASA said “gale-force” winds will prevail over areas under Signal No. 2, while strong winds will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 1.

Moreover, in the next 24 hours, rough to very rough seas will prevail over the seaboards of areas where Signal No. 2 and 1 have been raised.

“These conditions may be risky for most seacrafts. Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to remain in port or take shelter, while those operating larger vessels are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA advised.

“In the next 24 hours, moderate to rough seas will also prevail over the remaining seaboards of the country that are not under any wind signal or gale warning. These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” it added.

Agaton to interact, merge with the approaching storm ‘Malakas’

“Today through late Monday (April 11) or early Tuesday (April 12), Agaton is forecast to remain almost stationary or move west-northwestward slowly as it meanders over the southern portion of Eastern Samar and its coastal waters. Considering its erratic movement, there is an increasing likelihood of landfall over the southern portion of Eastern Samar in the next several hours,” PAGASA said.

“A gradually accelerating turn eastward is expected by mid-Tuesday as it interacts with the incoming tropical cyclone with international name ‘Malakas,’” it pointed out.

Storm Malakas, meanwhile, is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday, and will be given a local name, “Basyang.”

As of 3 a.m., Sunday, the center of Malakas was at 1,790 km east of Mindanao. It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

PAGASA said Agaton will likely remain a tropical storm for most of the forecast period, although the possibility of being downgraded into a tropical depression is not ruled out due to the adverse effect of potential land interaction.

Agaton is seen to degenerate into a remnant low as Malakas begins to absorb its circulation by late Tuesday or early Wednesday, April 13.