LPA near Luzon may turn into cyclone in 24 hours - PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines - The low pressure area (LPA) near Luzon may intensify into a tropical cyclone, the state weather bureau said Monday.

Weather forecaster Connie Dadivas of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the LPA may "pick up more moisture" as it continues to hover over the sea near Luzon and may intensify into a cyclone in the next 24 hours.

PAGASA said the storm was estimated at 270 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora embedded along the monsoon trough affecting luzon.

Dadivas said the storm will be named "Odette" when it intensify into a tropical cyclone. It will be the 15th cyclone that would hit the country this year.

The weather bureau said in its advisory 4 a.m. Monday that residents of Cagayan Valley should watch out for landslides and flashfloods due to heavy rains and thunderstorms.

It said Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon will also experience moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Meno Mendoza, also a weather forecaster at PAGASA, said that even if the LPA dissipates the country will continue to experience bad weather due to the southwest monsoon for the rest of the week.

Mendoza said that the southwest monsoon is being enhanced by Tropical Storm Manyi in Southern Japan.

He said the southwest monsoon is prevailing over CentralL Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Mindoro, which will be hit by moderate to heavy rains.