THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 in several areas in Visayas and Mindanao due to Tropical Storm Agaton.Pagasa said “Agaton” made landfall over Calicoan Island in Guiuan Eastern Samar around 7:30 a.m. on April 10, 2022.As of 10 a.m., the storm was spotted over the coastal waters of Guiuan with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kilometers per hour and central pressure of 996 hectopascals (hPa).It was moving westward “slowly.”Under TCWS were southern portion of Eastern Samar ((Guiuan, Mercedes, Salcedo, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan, Maydolong, Borongan City), the southern portion of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Santa Rita), the northeastern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, Tacloban City, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa) and norther portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto and Tubajon).Pagasa said gale-force winds are prevailing or expected within the next 24 hours in these areas.It said winds pose minor to moderate threat to life and property.Pagasa hoisted TCWS no. 1 over the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City, Tabogon, Borbon) including Camotes Islands and Surigao del Norte and the rest of Dinagat Islands.It said strong winds may prevail or are expected in these areas within the next 36 hours while potential impacts of winds are minimal to minor threat to life and property.“In the next 24 hours, rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 5.0 m) will prevail over the seaboards of areas where Wind Signals No. 2 and 1 are hoisted. 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,” said Pagasa.“In the next 24 hours, moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.4 m) 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.Pagasa also issued red rainfall warning over Leyte, Southern Leyte, Central and Northern Cebu while orange warning over Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran and Bohol.Under yellow rainfall warning was southern Cebu.In areas under red rainfall warning, serious flooding is expected, particularly in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas, while flooding is threatening in low-lying areas as well as landslides in mountainous areas under orange warningPagasa said flooding is also possible in low-lying and landslides in mountainous areas under yellow warning.It said until early Tuesday, April 12, Agaton may move “erratically” or remain almost stationary over the southern portion of Samar Island and its coastal waters due to weak steering environment.Aside from Agaton, Pagasa is also monitoring an incoming tropical cyclone with the international name Malakas.“Agataon 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 potential impact of land interaction on the tropical storm. ‘Agaton’ is forecast to degenerate into a remnant low by late Tuesday or early Wednesday as ‘Malakas’ begins to assimilate its circulation,” Pagasa said. (SunStar Philippines)