Pagasa weather satellite as of 10:30 a.m., September 29, 2022. From Pagasa website
MANILA, Philippines — Luis (international name: Roke) strengthened from a tropical storm into a severe tropical storm before finally leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning, the state weather agency reported.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Luis intensified into a severe tropical storm at 8 a.m. and then left the PAR at 9 a.m.
Its center was estimated at 1,130 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon as of 10 a.m. It was moving northward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph.
Pagasa also said Luis is likely to further intensify while traversing the sea east of Japan’s Ryukyu Islands.
READ: Pagasa: Storm Luis to exit PAR by Thursday
“Severe Tropical Storm LUIS is unlikely to directly affect the weather condition in the country,” the state weather service noted.
“LUIS remains unlikely to bring rough seas over the coastal waters of the country which may result [in] risky conditions to mariners,” it added.
Pagasa then said the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” a low-pressure area located 335 km east of Guiuan town in Eastern Samar, and localized thunderstorms will bring scattered and isolated rain showers and thunderstorms in different portions of the country.