TROPICAL Depression “Agaton” (Megi) slightly weakened Monday morning, April 11, as it remained almost stationary over San Pablo Bay, said the state weather bureau.As of 10 a.m. Monday, the eye of the cyclone was located over the coastal waters of Tanauan, Leyte, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (km/h), gusts of up to 60 km/h, and central pressure of 1002 hPa.The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Agaton’s strong winds may extend outwards up to 150 kilometers from the center.It added that Agaton was 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 Tuesday evening, April 12, as another tropical cyclone with international name “Malakas” begins to interact with it.As of 11 a.m., Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 was hoisted over the southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan) in Luzon; and 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, and the eastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Ubay, San Miguel, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini) in the Visayas.Also under TCWS 1 are Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands in Mindanao.Pagasa said that today (April 11), moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will prevail over Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, the northern portion of Negros Oriental, the northern portion of Negros Occidental, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras.“Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Dinagat Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Quezon, and the rest of Bicol Region and Visayas,” Pagasa said.On Tuesday, April 12, there will be moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Sorsogon, Masbate, and Eastern Visayas, and light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Dinagat Islands, Romblon, and the rest of Visayas.“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 hazard as identified in hazard maps,” said Pagasa.It added that in the next 24 hours, rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 4.5 meters) will prevail over the seaboards of areas where TCWS 1 is hoisted. These conditions may be risky for most seacrafts, said Pagasa.The weather bureau said Agaton was forecast to remain a tropical depression, and any significant intensification will likely be inhibited by the binary interaction of Agaton and Malakas.Based on its forecast intensity, Agaton may further weaken into a remnant low by Wednesday evening, April 13, as it becomes assimilated within the circulation of Malakas, Pagasa added.But it said that due to land interaction, further weakening into a remnant low before emerging over the Philippine Sea is possible. (SunStar Philippines)