MANILA, Nov. 26 -- 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 packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

It 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 35 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted in Kalayaan Islands, PAGASA said.

A gale warning is still in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Southern Luzon.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said Verbena is forecast to exit t...