Mexico Braces for Hurricane Norma Which May Become a Category 3

Mexican beach resorts around the Baja California peninsula are now bracing for a hurricane to hit as Hurricane Norma forms off the Pacific Coast of Mexico and is rapidly heading to land.

The US National Hurricane Center announced that Hurricane Norma is currently heading toward Los Cabos in Baja California Sur state. It might hit the area with hurricane-force winds and particularly hit the popular resort towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

According to the Associated Press, the center of the storm was located approximately 520 miles (835 kilometers) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas and is heading northeast at 8 mph (13 kph). The NHC says Hurricane Norma could strengthen briefly to as much as 115 mph (180 kph) before it begins weakening and then dissipating as it heads further inland.

The Pacific Coast of Mexico was just recently hit with back-to-back storms, with Tropical Storm Max bringing in flooding and washing away some roads while Hurricane Lidia caused even more flooding and also took down trees and blew the roofs off several houses, as well as causing a couple of deaths when it hit right after Max.

Hurricane Watch Warnings Not Yet Issued in Mexico as Hurricane Norma Approaches

As some areas of the Pacific Coast of Mexico are still reeling from back-to-back hits from Max and Lidia, many areas will now have to brace for Norma as well. However, the NHC has yet to issue Hurricane Watch warnings in parts of the Pacific Coast, especially along Baja California as the storm continues to strengthen as it approaches land.

However, the NHC and the Mexican government have warned that people living along the coastline are encouraged to pay close attention to the news as Hurricane Norma continues to gather strength.

In addition, the NHC is also warning of swells being caused by the approaching hurricane. Fox Weather noted that these swells will "eventually spread northward along the coast of western Mexico and towards Baja California Sur in the next few days."

It should be noted, too, that these swells can be dangerous and may even be life-threatening. Strong surf and rip current conditions may also arise as Norma approaches land.

After finally making landfall, forecasts show that tropical moisture from Hurricane Norma could also affect the US next week, as another Pacific disturbance could also bring in even more rainfall. Norma may also become as strong as a Category 3 Hurricane at its height,

El Niño Making Weather More Complicated in Mexico's Pacific Coast

As back-to-back storms seem to be hitting the Pacific Coast, especially in Mexico, it seems that one of the reasons why the weather in the area has gotten complicated is the climate phenomenon known as El Niño.

According to the New York Times, El Niño reduces wind shear or changes in wind speed and direction. The reduction and changes in wind shear and wind speed often help prevent storms from forming. This means that storms are much more likely in the Pacific now because there is less wind shear to stop forms from forming.

El Niño also has the opposite effect in the Atlantic as it increases wind shear and slows down the formation of storms.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Tropical Storm Norma In Eastern Pacific Expected To Threaten Mexico As Significant Hurricane - Fox Weather