Hurricane Norma forms in the Pacific; likely to approach Cabo by the weekend
Hurricane Norma continued to strengthen in the eastern Pacific Ocean Thursday, on a track that will take it toward the Mexican resorts at Los Cabos over the weekend.
After hitting Mexico, some of Norma's remnants will also eventually fuel rainfall across drought-stricken parts of the central U.S., AccuWeather said.
As of Thursday morning, Norma had winds of 125 mph, making it a Category 3 "major" hurricane. The National Hurricane Center said that Norma would continue to strengthen, likely reaching 130 mph later on Thursday. It was then forecast to weaken slowly as it approaches land.
Norma is expected to be near hurricane strength as it approaches the southern tip of Baja California and a hurricane watch has been issued for that area, the hurricane center said.
Heavy rain, flooding and mudslides possible
As of Thursday morning, the center of the storm was located about 430 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, and was moving north at 6 mph.
"Heavy rainfall from Norma will begin to impact the far southern portions of Baja California Sur late Friday, continuing through Sunday. This rainfall may produce flash and urban flooding, along with possible mudslides in areas of high terrain," the hurricane center said.
Los Cabos is made up of the twin resorts of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
Helpful rain for parched U.S.
Some of Norma's remnants are forecast to drop rain across portions of the drought-plagued central U.S. by next week, forecasters said.
"A dip in the jet stream that will develop in the western U.S. next week will help to scoop up the energy and moisture from the tropical system over the south Central states," AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
Significant rain will fall from Texas to Iowa next week, AccuWeather said, with 2-4 inches likely in most areas. A good soaking will be helpful across the central U.S., where widespread drought conditions are in place, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Tammy forms in the Atlantic
Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Tammy also continued to strengthen Thursday, several hundred miles east of the Caribbean islands.
"This system has the potential to bring gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding to portions of the Lesser Antilles beginning on Friday," the hurricane center said.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for Barbados, Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Tammy is the 20th named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Norma forms, could hit Cabo by the weekend
