Norma (2005)

Norma formed from a tropical disturbance south of Manzanillo, Mexico. A well-defined center developed and the system became a tropical depression around 0000 UTC on 23 September 2005. It strengthened to a tropical storm by 1200 UTC that day and moved generally northwestward well offshore of Mexico. Norma remained a small, short-lived tropical cyclone and weakened to a tropical depression by 1800 UTC 26 September, degenerated to a remnant low near 1800 UTC 27 September about 410 nautical miles west of Cabo San Lucas, and finally dissipated on 1 October about 600 nmi west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas.

Norma did not make any landfalls. Its entire life cycle occurred over the open eastern North Pacific, far from the Mexican coast, and it produced no coastal impacts associated with a direct strike.

The storm’s peak intensity was estimated at 50 knots (about 58 mph) at 1800 UTC on 24 September, with a minimum central pressure around 997 millibars. At peak it was a moderate tropical storm; it never reached hurricane strength.

Because Norma stayed well offshore, there were no reports of storm surge or coastal inundation tied to the cyclone. Rainfall and surge observations associated with Norma were not reported for populated locations since the storm did not affect land.

There were no reports of damage or fatalities—neither direct nor indirect—associated with Norma. Forecasts and warnings performed relatively well: NHC track and intensity errors for Norma were below the 1995–2004 averages, and several models (notably interpolated GFS, shallow BAM, and the GUNA consensus) provided good track guidance for this slow-moving, short-lived storm.