Norma Makes Landfall In Baja California; Mainland Mexico Braces For Life-Threatening Impacts

Weather experts bared that Norma, which is now a tropical storm, already made landfall in Mexico.

They warned that Norma losing its intensity would not lessen the effects of the weather system in the country.

(Photo : Getty Images/Joel Cosio)

Landfall

Officials said that Norma made landfall on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane.

Authorities said that the mainland Mexico was bracing for life-threatening impacts because Norma was continuing to bear down on the region as a tropical storm late this weekend.

Meteorologists noted that Norma would continue to lose wind intensity as it encounters land and cooler waters.

They alsl said that the second landfall of Norma could possibly transpire on the western coast of the country's mainland.

Furthermore, weather experts warned that the heavy rains could lead to incidents of life-threatening flash floods, mudslides and washouts from the southern part of the Baja Peninsula towards the west-central coast of mainland Mexico.

Moreover, heavy winds can also topple down trees and power lines and they may also bring damage as regards to some structures near where Norma makes its first encounter with land during the weekend.

Read Also: Norma To Unleash Heavy Rains In Mexico; Seen To Make Two Landfalls

Norma's Track

According to the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, it was at 900 PM MDT (0300 UTC) when the center of Tropical Storm Norma was located near latitude 25.0 North, longitude 109.0 West.

Norma is tracking the direction toward the east-northeast near 5 mph (7 km/h).

Based on the forecast track, the center of Norma is forecasted to approach the west coast of mainland Mexico tonight and move inland within the tropical storm warning area early Monday.

The maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Norma is also expected to move over the west coast of mainland Mexico as a tropical storm early Monday.

On the other hand, rapid weakening is anticipated once Norma moves inland over mainland Mexico.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km) from the center while the estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb (29.24 inches).

Meteorologists said that tropical storm conditions are ongoing within portions of the tropical storm warning area.

When it comes to the amount of rainfall, Norma is expected to produce additional rainfall totals of 4 to6 inches with storm total maxima of 18 inches in and near Sinaloa into Monday.

These rains are expected to produce flash and urban flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain.

On the other hand, storm surge is also expected and meteorologists warned that coastal flooding is possible along the west coast of mainland Mexico within the tropical storm warning area.

Near the coast, the coastal flooding will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.

Meanwhile, the surf swells generated by Norma would continue to affect the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico and Baja California Sur for the next day or two.

These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Related Article: Norma Rapidly Explodes Into Major Hurricane; Rains Expected In Central US

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