Hurricane Norma Gains Intensity on Approach Toward Los Cabos, Mexico

As Hurricane Norma intensifies into a major storm on Thursday, it’s traveling on a trajectory toward Mexico’s Pacific coast on a course that’s projected to take it dangerously near the perennially popular tourist destination of Los Cabos.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued advisories and for the Eastern Pacific region and announced a hurricane watch for southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, where Los Cabos—which consists of twin resort towns San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas—is located. 

Currently a Category 4 hurricane, Norma is located about 410 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, and is moving northward at a speed of 7 mph, while producing maximum sustained windspeeds of 130 mph.

The storm is predicted to start weakening as it approaches land on Friday, although it’s still unclear whether it will actually make landfall in Los Cabos or potentially alter course and, instead, impact Mexico's Sinaloa state to the east.

Graphic illustrating the probable path of Hurricane Norma. (Photo Credit: U.S. National Hurricane Center)

One of U.S. National Hurricane Center’s hurricane specialists, John Cangialosi, told AP News noted that predicting Norma's path is proving challenging. The storm is forecast to continue on its northbound trajectory into Saturday, but will then slow to a crawl and linger over the southern part of the Baja California Peninsula.

If Norma does slow down and hover over the area instead of moving on quickly, experts are concerned about the possibility of prolonged heavy rain and strong winds.

The Hurricane Center noted that “Heavy rains from Norma will begin to impact the far southern ports of California Baja Sur on late Friday, continuing through Sunday. This rainfall may produce flash and urban flooding, along with possible mudslides in areas of higher terrain.”

Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Tammy is currently located 425 miles east-southeast of Guadeloupe, moving west-northwest at a speed of 15 mph and generating maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. A hurricane watch is now in effect for the Southern Caribbean island group, which is designated a French overseas territory.

Tammy is expected to gather strength over the coming weekend as it approaches the Leeward Islands, and could potentially reach hurricane force by Saturday, when it’s forecast to pass by Barbuda and St. Martin.

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