Norma to become Pacific hurricane by Saturday

Tropical Storm Norma is expected to become a hurricane by Saturday while moving towards Baja California Sur, the National Hurricane Center said.

In a 3 a.m. advisory, the NHC said the center of the storm was located 85 miles east of Socorro Island and 295 miles south of Cabo San Lucas. The storm was traveling north at 2 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

Forecasters said Norma should strengthen into a hurricane in the next day and a hurricane watch could be required later for parts of the Baja peninsula.

"Norma is moving toward the north near 2 mph, and this slow motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days," the NHC said. "Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours."

Tropical Storm Lidia made landfall on the peninsula earlier this month, causing extensive flooding and leaving at least seven people dead.

Hurricane Max, meanwhile, was churning just south of Norma, but was moving east toward Mexico's west coast.
 [upi.com]
 15/9/17
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• Mexico's south Baja peninsula braces for tropical storm Lidia