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Hurricane Norma (2023)

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Hurricane Norma was one of four tropical cyclones to strike the Pacific Coast of Mexico in October 2023. The seventeenth tropical depression, fourteenth named storm, ninth hurricane and seventh major hurricane[a] of the 2023 Pacific hurricane season, Norma developed from an area of low pressure that formed off the coast of southern Mexico on October 15, 2023. The disturbance gradually organized as it progressed westward parallel to the coast, and developed into Tropical Storm Norma on October 17. Turning northward, Norma rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane as it continued to parallel the west coast of Mexico. Less favorable environmental conditions caused Norma to gradually weaken as it approached the Baja California peninsula. The cyclone made landfall on the Mexican state of Baja California Sur as a Category 1 hurricane. Norma continued to weaken as it crossed the state. The storm emerged over the Gulf of California on October 22, and made landfall as a tropical depression the following day on the state of Sinaloa. Norma quickly dissipated as it moved inland over Mexico.

Hurricane Norma
Norma at its peak intensity while south of the Baja California peninsula on October 19
Meteorological history
FormedOctober 17, 2023
DissipatedOctober 23, 2023
Category 4 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds130 mph (215 km/h)
Lowest pressure939 mbar (hPa); 27.73 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities3
Damage$23.3 million (2023 USD)
Areas affectedMexico (Baja California Sur and Sinaloa)
[1]
Part of the 2023 Pacific hurricane season

Norma resulted in extensive flooding across northwestern Mexico, peaking at nearly 19 in (480 mm) in parts of Baja California Sur. Numerous trees, homes and boats were damaged in the cities of Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. Damage across the state reached MXN$200 million (USD$11.1 million).[b] Norma resulted in three fatalities in Sinaloa, as well as severe damage to numerous houses and businesses. Infrastructural damage alone in Sinaloa cost MXN$220.5 million (USD$12.2 million).

Meteorological history

 
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
  Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A broad low-pressure area developed over the northeastern Pacific Ocean on October 15, 2023, producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. With this convective activity gradually consolidating, the system organized into a tropical depression by 12:00 UTC on October 17[c] about 400 nautical miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Six hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Norma. Situated within an environment of warm sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), low vertical wind shear, and plentiful moisture, Norma underwent an almost two-day long period of rapid intensification shortly after forming, as a ridge over Mexico steered the system to the north while gradually slowing it down. At 18:00 UTC on October 18, 24 hours after being named, Norma strengthened into a hurricane. Just twelve hours later the storm achieved major hurricane status. Norma featured a well-defined, clear eye at this time. The major hurricane continued to move slowly north, parallel to the west coast of Mexico, as it rounded the ridge. Norma reached its peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane at 12:00 UTC on October 19, with maximum sustained winds of 210 km/h (130 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 939 mbar (27.7 inHg). The storm was centered 350 nautical miles south of Cabo San Lucas at the time.[1]

After peaking in intensity, increased dry air and wind shear caused Norma's structure to degrade, and the storm weakened slightly as it turned northwestward and began to move more quickly. Norma fluctuated in intensity, achieving a secondary peak as a 195 km/h (120 mph) Category 3 hurricane on October 20. Despite this, increasingly cooler SSTs caused the hurricane to weaken rapidly as it turned north between the ridge over Mexico and a trough to its northwest. Norma made landfall on the Mexican state of Baja California Sur near 20:15 UTC on October 21 as a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum winds of 130 km/h (80 mph). Norma weakened to a tropical storm as it crossed the Baja California Peninsula, and emerged over the Gulf of California early the following day. Strong upper-level winds produced by the trough caused Norma's convective activity to be sheared away, and the storm weakened to a depression as it moved inland over the state of Sinaloa at 10:30 UTC on October 23. The cyclone dissipated over western Mexico by 18:00 UTC.[1]

Preparations and impact

Tropical storm and hurricane warnings were issued in advance of Norma’s landfalls, with the NHC anticipating rainfall totals of up to 18 in (460 mm) across portions of northwestern Mexico.[3] Schools were closed across the states of Baja California Sur and Sinaloa. Los Cabos International Airport and La Paz International Airport were also shut down in advance of the storm.[4] A total of 120 shelters were opened across Sinaloa.[5] Members of the Mexican Navy were deployed by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to assist residents impacted by Norma.[6]

Baja California Sur

Torrential rainfall and strong winds affected Baja California Sur as Norma passed through the state. The intense rainfall led to extreme flooding, with peak accumulations of nearly 19 in (480 mm) in some areas.[7] Several wind gusts of over 90 mph (145 km/h) were recorded across the state, peaking at 107 mph (170 km/h) at a weather station on the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas.[8] Numerous streets and canals across La Paz flooded as Norma passed through Baja California Sur. Strong winds from Norma blew down numerous trees and palapas. Additionally, many sailboats and yachts were damaged in their piers along the city's coast.[4][6] The port of La Paz was closed, leaving over 400 people stranded onboard a ferry crossing the Gulf of California from Sinaloa.[9] Downed utility poles in Cabo San Lucas disrupted electrical service to over 10,000 people.[10] A disaster declaration was issued by the governor of Baja California Sur, Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío, due to the extensive damage Norma wrought to public infrastructure in southern regions of the state.[11] Three stores in La Paz suffered MXN$80–90 thousand (USD$4.6–5.2 thousand) worth of damage.[12]

Infrastructural damage across Baja California Sur reached MXN$200 million (USD$11.1 million), according to Governor Castro. The governor also stated that he was not anticipating financial assistance from the Mexican federal government to cover the cost of damage produced by Norma.[13][14]

Sinaloa

Norma dumped heavy rainfall and caused widespread power outages across southern areas of Sinaloa as it made landfall on the state as a tropical depression.[4] Peak accumulations of 12 in (300 mm) fell near where Norma's center came ashore.[7] Three people died in the state, including two in vehicle-related accidents and a 3-year-old child due to electrocution. Broken glass, fallen trees and damage to homes and business was reported, mainly in the municipalities of Los Mochis, Ahome and Guasave.[5] The hurricane caused infrastructural damages totaling MXN$220.5 million (USD$12.2 million) across Sinaloa, damaging several roads and four bridges, as well as causing eighteen sinkholes to form across thirteen municipalities.[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher—1-minute sustained winds higher than 110 miles per hour (178 km/h)—on the Saffir–Simpson scale are described as major hurricanes.[2]
  2. ^ All monetary values converted using exchangerates.org, based on exchange rates for October 30, 2023
  3. ^ All dates and times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) unless otherwise noted

References

  1. ^ a b c Lisa Bucci (March 15, 2024). Hurricane Norma Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida, United States: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Bowman, Emma; Marx, Willem; Hernandez, Joe (October 22, 2023). "A weakened Norma crosses Mexico, while Hurricane Tammy threatens Caribbean islands". NPR. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Bonaccorso, Nicole (October 23, 2023). "Photos Show Hurricane Norma's Impacts In Mexico". weather.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Sánchez, Samuel (October 23, 2023). "Imágenes de daños causados por Norma; mueren 3 personas en Sinaloa" [Images of damage caused by Norma; 3 people die in Sinaloa]. Uno TV (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Storm Norma weakens after dropping heavy rain on Mexico, as Hurricane Tammy makes landfall in Barbuda". CBS News. 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  7. ^ a b Precipitación acumulada (mm) del 20 al 22 de octubre de 2023 por al huracán Norma (Map) (in Mexican Spanish). Conagua. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  8. ^ Barker, Aaron; Oberholtz, Chris; Wulfeck, Chris; Sistek, Scott (October 23, 2023). "Norma dissipates over Mexico after making 2nd landfall Monday". FOX Weather. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "Norma downgraded to tropical storm in Mexico as Hurricane Tammy leaves minor damage in Caribbean". PBS NewsHour. 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  10. ^ Cappucci, Matthew (2023-10-23). "Tropical storms and hurricanes still roam the Atlantic and Pacific". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  11. ^ "Los Cabos Hotels Suffer Very Little Damage From Hurricane Norma". The Cabo Sun. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Alan Flores (December 9, 2023). "90 mil pesos requieren mercados de La Paz por daños de "Norma"" [90 thousand pesos require La Paz markets due to “Norma” damages]. El Sudcaliforniano (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "Huracán Norma dejó 200 mdp en daños a infraestructura; no habrá apoyo federal: Gobernador de BCS" [Hurricane Norma left 200 million pesos in damage to infrastructure; there will be no federal support: Governor of BCS]. BCS Noticias (in Mexican Spanish). October 30, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  14. ^ Elvira Vargas (November 1, 2023). "200 MDP en daños por huracán Norma, en BCS: gobernador" [200 million pesos in damages from Hurricane Norma, in BCS: governor]. Cabo Mil 96.3 (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  15. ^ Javier Martínez (October 30, 2023). "Tormenta tropical "Norma" causó daños en carreteras, puentes y abrió 18 socavones en Sinaloa" [Tropical storm "Norma" caused damage to roads, bridges and opened 18 sinkholes in Sinaloa]. El Universal (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved December 9, 2023.

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Weather Service.

 
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