Eight areas under Signal No. 1 as Agaton almost stationary in Eastern Samar

Tropical depression Agaton maintained its strength while over Quinapondan, Eastern Samar, the weather bureau PAGASA said Tuesday night.

In its 8 p.m. weather bulletin, the center of Agaton was estimated in the vicinity of Quinapondan with maximum sustained winds of kph, gustiness of up to 75 kph, and central pressure of 1002 hPa.

Agaton is almost stationary with strong winds or higher that extend outwards up to 150 km from the center.

PAGASA said the following areas are still under Signal No. 1:

• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Northern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Camotes Island
• 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.

In the next 24 hours, rough seas (2.8 to 4.0 m) will prevail over the seaboards of areas where Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted.

Moreover, moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.7 m) will also prevail over the remaining seaboards of the country that are not under any wind signal or gale warning, especially over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

Agaton is forecast to move slowly or almost stationary in the next 6 to 12 hours before turning more east southeastward towards the Philippine Sea beginning tomorrow morning, PAGASA said.

The track forecast of Agaton may likely change in the succeeding bulletin considering the continuing erratic nature of its movement.

Due to the combined effects of land interaction, increasing vertical wind shear, and the effects of the upper-level outflow of Typhoon Malakas, this tropical depression is forecast to deteriorate into a remnant low within the next 24 hours.

The remnant of Agaton will then continue tracking generally eastward over the Philippine Sea as it becomes assimilated within the circulation of Malakas.

The next tropical cyclone bulletin will be issued at 11:00 p.m. —NB, GMA News