 By August 30 , strong outflow developed around Luis despite convection remaining displaced from the low pressure center . Once the shear began to relent , shower and thunderstorm activity redeveloped around the center , allowing the storm to intensify . Around 1800 UTC that day , Luis attained Category 1 hurricane status on the Saffir @-@ Simpson Hurricane Scale ; however , operationally Luis was not upgraded to a hurricane until 0900 UTC on August 31 . The newly upgraded hurricane steadily intensified as banding features developed around the periphery of the cyclone . By the morning of August 31 , cold cloud tops surrounded a developing eye . Around this time , Luis was located due south of the area of high pressure and tracking steadily towards the west @-@ northwest . Further development resulted in the appearance of a ragged eye appearing on visible satellite images . Winds within the eyewall were estimated at 100 mph ( 155 km / h ) , making Luis a low @-@ end Category 2 hurricane . Later that day , the storm became increasingly organized , with a symmetrical structure and a well @-@ defined center . The NHC forecast the hurricane to peak as a Category 3 hurricane in 36 hours before interacting with Hurricane Iris and Tropical Storm Karen . 
