WITH the low pressure area (LPA) off Batanes likely to dissipate in 24 hours, the state-weather agency said on Thursday that the southwest monsoon, locally known as 'habagat,' will continue to prevail across the country over the next few days.

Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said most parts of the country will experience overcast skies due to habagat. 'So far, we have not monitored any weather disturbance inside or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the coming days,' the Pagasa forecaster said. In particular, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol Region, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) and BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), the state weather bureau said.