Where Is Tropical Storm Norma And When Will It Hit?

Screen Shot 2017-09-15 at 11 — Hurricane Norma was expected to become a hurricane as early as Friday night. National Hurricane Center

Yet another storm formed in the Pacific Ocean Thursday, bringing the potential for more rain and wind to pummel areas of Mexico. Tropical storm Norma remained about 295 miles south of Cabo San Lucas Friday morning, moving north at less than 5 mph.

Norma was expected to strengthen in warm water as it made its way toward Mexico. Forecasts predicted it could become a hurricane as soon as Friday night.

“Norma is likely to become a hurricane as it churns in the warm waters of the East Pacific,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Steve D. Travis. “While the track is not set in stone, it could move northward toward the Baja Peninsula or western Mexico late in the weekend.”

Tropical Storm #Norma Advisory 5: Norma Strengthening and Forecast to Become a Hurricane By Tonight. https://t.co/mbw53R5dme
— NHC Eastern Pacific (@NHC_Pacific) September 15, 2017

The path of Norma remains uncertain: the position and strength of pressure systems in the area could impact its track. Should the storm make its way close to Mexico, it might bring flooding and potential storm surges to the Baja Peninsula, according to AccuWeather. There is, however, the potential for the storm to turn northwestward in the coming days, bypassing the peninsula.

“The longer Norma takes to strengthen, the better chance that the tropical low misses the Baja Peninsula,” said AccuWeather hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski.

Even if the storm misses the peninsula altogether, it could affect areas by bringing rough surf and rip currents. Moisture from the storm could bring rain and thunderstorms into the southwestern United States as well, according to the Weather Channel.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Max was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday night as it tracked about 80 miles east of Acapulco, according to the National Hurricane Center. Max was expected to continue weakening as it made its way inland over Southern Mexico and would likely become a tropical depression in the coming days. The storm, however, continued to bring heavy rain and wind in certain areas. In Guerrero, a tourist hotspot, Max had the potential to bring up to 20 inches of rain as well as flash floods and mudslides, Reuters reported.