A tropical depression east of Mindanao will likely be the first cyclone that will enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this year, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Monday.

Once it enters the PAR probably on Wednesday, the tropical cyclone will be named “Agaton.”

As of 8 a.m. Monday, the tropical depression on the eastern side of Mindanao was spotted over the Philippine Sea more than 800 kilometers away from the Philippine area of responsibility, PAGASA weather forecaster Arnel Gonzales said in an interview.

“The tropical depression is coming from the southeast going to the northwest direction of the country,” Gonzales said.

“There are many possibilities... Based on our satellite model, the tropical depression may still dissipate. It may also weaken to a low pressure area. If ever it hits the country, it will be likely be near Tuguegarao,” he said.

“But due to the occurrence of a wind convergence in Mindanao, the tropical depression is being enhanced and may maintain its status,” he added.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin Monday, PAGASA said wind convergence is affecting Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.

Provinces in these areas are expected to experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA said there will be moderate to strong winds blowing from the east and northeast that will prevail over the eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao and coming from the east to southeast over eastern Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the east and northeast with slight to moderate seas.