Manila: Tropical cyclone Verbena has intensified into a severe tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday. The cyclone is packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

According to Philippines News Agency, the storm was last tracked 375 km west of Coron, Palawan, or 310 km east northeast of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan. It is moving westward at a speed of 35 kph. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is currently hoisted in Kalayaan Islands, PAGASA reported.

A gale warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Southern Luzon. Meanwhile, PAGASA forecasts that Verbena is likely to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday night or on Thursday.