'Luis' now outside PH, but intensifies into severe tropical storm

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — Tropical Storm Luis left the country's weather monitoring area on Thursday morning, but has developed into a severe tropical storm.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Luis was last spotted 1,130 kilometers east northeast of extreme northern Luzon, and is still moving northward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

The weather bureau said Luis left the country around 9 a.m., an hour after it was classified as a severe tropical storm.

The storm is moving at 100 kph near the center and gustiness has increased up to 125 kph, however PAGASA said it will not have any direct effect on the country.

Given Luis' distance from the country, it is also unlikely to bring rough seas to local waters. PAGASA added the storm is seen to grow stronger and could reach typhoon status.

Parts of Luzon are still recovering from the onslaught of Typhoon Karding, which left 11 people dead and over a billion pesos worth of damage to agriculture, according to latest government data.