THE low pressure area (LPA) being monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) could intensify and become a storm.

The LPA was last spotted some 220 kilometers northeast of Aparri, Cagayan.

"At present, the LPA has a hard time to intensify because it is in an environment that is not conducive for it to turn into a tropical depression," weather specialist Robert Badrina said.

Pagasa said the southwest monsoon or habagat, along with localized thunderstorms, would prevail in most parts of the country.

The Ilocos Region, Benguet, Abra, Zambales and Bataan will have scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.

The same weather system will bring isolated downpours in other areas including Metro Manila and CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies due to the localized thunderstorms.