THE first cyclone to enter the country this year has weakened into a tropical depression, but Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) remained hoisted over several areas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday, April 11, 2022.As of 7 a.m. Monday, the center of Tropical Depression Agaton was spotted over the coastal waters of Tanauan, Leyte, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour, gusts of up to 75 kilometers per hour, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.Pagasa said it was moving slowly north northwestward and was packing strong winds that extend outwards up to 150 kilometers from the center.Pagasa hoisted TCWS Number 1 in the southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer and Cawayan), Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan) including Camotes Island, the eastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Ubay, San Miguel, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia and Mabini), Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.“Strong winds (strong breeze to near gale conditions) will be experienced within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 1 is currently in effect,” it said in its advisory.The weather bureau said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may be experienced over Eastern Visayas, Masbate, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and the northern and central portions of Cebu, including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over Dinagat Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Quezon, and the rest of Bicol Region and Visayas.On Tuesday, April 12, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains is expected over Sorsogon, Masbate, and Eastern Visayas, and light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Dinagat Islands, Romblon, and the rest of Visayas.Pagasa warned against rough seas in the affected areas, saying this poses risk to seacrafts.“Today through tomorrow afternoon, Agaton is forecast to slowly loop in the vicinity of northeastern portion of Leyte and the southern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar before emerging over the Philippine Sea by tomorrow evening as another tropical cyclone with international name Malakas begins to interact with it,” it said. (SunStar Philippines)