| Hurricane Norma | |
| Formed: | October 17, 2023 |
| Dissipated: | October 23, 2023 |
| Winds: | 115 |
| Pressure: | 939 |
| Fatalities: | 3 |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Damages: | 23300000 |
| Areas: | Mexico (Baja California Sur and Sinaloa) |
| Refs: | [1] |
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 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.
Norma resulted in extensive flooding across northwestern Mexico, peaking at nearly 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). 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).
An area of low pressure formed south of the southern coast of Mexico on October 15, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.[2] The showers and thunderstorms associated with the disturbance gradually became better organized as it moved parallel with the southwestern coast of Mexico, and by the afternoon of October 17, had developed enough to be classified as Tropical Storm Norma.[3] Norma quickly intensified, and by the following morning was generating intense inner-core convection. Consequently, a ring of very cold cloud tops had formed around its center, within which a ragged eye had emerged.[4] Norma then rapidly intensified from a high-end tropical storm to Category 4 hurricane by the next morning. During the 24hour period ending 15:00 UTC on October 19, its maximum sustained winds rose from to .[5] Later, moderate wind shear caused the system to weaken below major hurricane strength as it approached the southern end of the Baja California peninsula on the morning of October 21.[6] Shortly after 20:00 UTC that afternoon, the storm made landfall with sustained winds of about west-northwest of Cabo San Lucas.[7] Later, after moving offshore over the Gulf of California, strong wind shear enabled dry mid-level air to penetrate the circulation from the northwest, weakening the system to a tropical depression as it approached the coast of Sinaloa.[8] The system made its final landfall at about 16:30 UTC on October 23, near El Dorado, Sinaloa, and soon degenerated into a remnant low.[9]
Tropical storm and hurricane warnings were issued in advance of Norma’s landfalls, with the NHC anticipating rainfall totals of up to across portions of northwestern Mexico.[10] 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.[11] A total of 120 shelters were opened across Sinaloa.[12] Members of the Mexican Navy were deployed by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to assist residents impacted by Norma.[13]
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 in some areas.[14] Several wind gusts of over were recorded across the state, peaking at at a weather station on the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas.[15] 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.[11] [13] The port of La Paz was closed, leaving over 400 people stranded onboard a ferry crossing the Gulf of California from Sinaloa.[16] Downed utility poles in Cabo San Lucas disrupted electrical service to over 10,000 people.[17] 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.[18] Three stores in La Paz suffered MXN$80 - 90 thousand (USD$4.6 - 5.2 thousand) worth of damage.[19]
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.[20] [21]
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. Peak accumulations of fell near where Norma's center came ashore. 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. 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.[22]
