File:Hurricane Norma (MODIS).jpg

English: Hurricane Norma was a Category 3 major storm with maximum sustained winds of about 115 mph (185 km/h) on October 20, 2023, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image.

Norma had weakened slightly from peak strength of 130 mph (209 km/h)—a Category 4 hurricane—which it reached early on October 19, but was still on track to strike the Baja Peninsula of Mexico by early October 21 as a very strong Category 2 storm, followed by traveling across the Gulf of California to make a second landfall on the west coast of Mexico as a tropical storm early next week.

At 1940 UTC (3:40 p.m. EDT) on October 20, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Hurricane Norma was located about 210 miles (335 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and about 360 miles (575 km) west of Manzanillo, Mexico. It was moving north-northwest at 8 mph (13 km/h) and maximum sustained winds had increased to 120 mph (195 km/h).

Rain has begun to fall on the Los Cabos resorts (Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo) on the Baja Peninsula and widespread flight cancellations are in effect as of October 20. Social media posts from travelers at the Los Cabos resorts show increasing storm surge, sandbags by the hotels, and dark skies as Norma makes its approach. All airports, ports, and beaches near the tip of Baja California are expected to be closed at least through October 21.