'Agaton' Makes Landfall Over Samar as Rains Persist Over Visayas
(UPDATE) Tropical depression Agaton (Megi) made landfall over Basey, Samar Monday afternoon as signal no. 1 rains persist in large parts of Visayas, PAGASA said.
Agaton, the first storm of 2022, at 4 p.m. packed maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour with 60 kph gusts, almost stationary in the vicinity of Basey, Samar.
It is forecast to make a u-turn heading to the Philippine Sea by Tuesday night when another storm outside the country, severe tropical storm Malakas, interacts with it, according to weather forecaster Grace Castañeda said in an early Monday briefing.
It is expected to dump moderate to heavy rains over Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, and northern and central portions of the Negros Provinces this Holy Monday.
By Tuesday, it is seen to bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visyas, Capiz, Aklan, Iloilo, Antique, the northern portions of Negros Provinces, and the northern portion of Cebu including Batanyan Islands and Camotes Islands.
Agaton is expected to further weaken by Wednesday evening when it interacts and assimilates with Malakas.
Signal no. 1, with winds of less than 62 kph, and can tilt banana plants, is raised over:
- Southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan)
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Northern Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan) including Camotes Island
- Eastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Ubay, San Miguel, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini)
- Surigao del Norte
- Dinagat Islands
Malakas, spotted 1,300 km east of Southern Luzon at 10 a.m., slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds of 100 kph and 125 kph gusts. It is moving northwestward at 15 kph, according to PAGASA.
It could enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday night or Tuesday morning as a typhoon, PAGASA said. Once inside PAR, Malakas will be named Basyang.
While it could pull Agaton to the Philippine Sea, Malakas is unlikely to directly affect the weather condition in the country.
Another low pressure area, monitored 240 km southwest of Puerto Princesa at 4 a.m., will bring rains over Palawan, said Castaneda. It has low chances of intensifying into a tropical depression.
ALSO READ:
Super Typhoons Now Less Confusing as PAGASA Aligns with U.S. Definition
Here's Your Typhoon Safety Guide
Why It's Dry Season, Not Summer in the Philippines, According to Science