Hurricane Norbert Moving up Mexico’s West Coast; Strengthening Expected: NHC

The National Hurricane Center in Miami is tracking Hurricane Norbert, the 14th named Western Pacific storm of the season, as it moves up the West coast of Mexico towards the Baja Peninsula.

The NHC’s most recent bulletin at 2:00 A.M. PDT located Norbert’s center at about 165 miles – 265 kms – south of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph – 130 km/h with “slow strengthening expected during the next 24 hours.” Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles – 35 kms from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles – 165 kms.

The storm is presently moving northwest at 6 mph – 9 km/h, and is “expected to continue during the next couple of days,” the NHC said. “On the forecast track the center of the hurricane is expected to approach the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula today, and move nearly parallel to the pacific coast of the peninsula tonight and Friday.”

A tropical storm warning is in effect from La Paz to Cabo San Lazaro, and a tropical storm watch is in effect north of Cabo San Lazaro to Puerto San Andresito and north of La Paz to San Evaristo.

The NHC forecast that Norbert would “produce rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches over the southern part of the Baja California Peninsula through Friday.” It also warned of surf and large swells that “will affect portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico today. The swells will gradually spread northward into the southern Gulf of California and along the coast of southern Baja California Sur through Friday” and will produce dangerous surf conditions and rip currents.

On the forecast track Norbert would remain in fairly close to the coast of Baja California, and could have some impact on Southern California. It is not expected to be off the coast of the U.S. mainland until next Monday or Tuesday.

Source: National Hurricane Center

Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane Mexico