A low pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao will likely enter the country's area of responsibility within the next 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday morning, Nov. 17.

In its daily weather forecast, PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said the LPA was spotted 1,525 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 3 a.m.

He said the weather disturbance has a slim chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours but may still bring significant rains over some areas as it approaches the country.

The LPA may come close and bring rains over some parts of Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region on Friday, Nov. 19, Estareja said.

By weekend, he noted that more areas may be affected by rains caused by the LPA.

"Maaaring makakaranas ng pag-ulan ang CALABARZON at most of Visayas, MIMAROPA , and even Cagayan Valley and Caraga Region. Magkakaroon ng minsang malalakas na pag-ulan kaya't pinag-iingat na natin sila (CALABARZON and most of Visayas, MIMAROPA, and even Cagayan Valley and Caraga Region may experience rains. There will be some heavy rains so we advise those in these areas to stay vigilant against possible floods or landslides)," Estareja said.

He added that PAGASA is not yet ruling out the possibility that the LPA may develop into a tropical depression as it can still gain strength over the ocean.

"Di pa rin natin niru-rule out na itong low pressure area pagpasok ng PAR ay magiging isang bagyo, habang ito ay nasa karagatan pa (We are still not ruling out the possibility that this low pressure area may become a tropical cyclone once it enters the PAR, as it is still in the ocean," Estareja said.

In the next 24 hours, the northeast monsoon, locally called "amihan," and intetropical convergence zone (ITCZ) remain the dominant weather systems in the country.

PAGASA said cloudy skies with monsoon rains may prevail over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Aurora, and Quezon.

Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the ITCZ may persist over Palawan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.

PAGASA advised those affected by the amihan and ITCZ to stay vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides due to the occurrence of moderate to, at times, heavy rains.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light amihan rains.

The rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms or ITCZ.

PAGASA warned that severe thunderstorm activities may sometimes trigger flash floods or landslides.