Norbert becomes hurricane in Pacific off Mexico’s Baja California peninsula

MIAMI – Norbert has become a hurricane in the Pacific well off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Norbert reached hurricane strength on Wednesday, packing top sustained winds of 130 kph. It is centred about 335 kilometres south of the Baja peninsula.

Forecasters say Norbert is headed northwest at 13 kph and expected to approach the southern tip of the peninsula Thursday and trek nearly parallel to the Pacific coast Friday.

Forecasters say a tropical storm warning is in effect from La Paz to Cabo San Lazaro, while a tropical storm watch is in effect north of Cabo San Lazaro to Puerto San Andresito and north of La Paz to San Evaristo.