Norman (2012)

A tropical wave that moved into the eastern Pacific developed into Tropical Storm Norman early on 28 September 2012, about 100 nautical miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas. Norman moved northward into the southern Gulf of California, reached its peak intensity the same day, then weakened as it interacted with land and wind shear. It became a tropical depression just before making landfall and degenerated to a remnant low by midday 29 September, with the remnants dissipating near Loreto on 30 September.

Norman made a single recorded landfall near Topolobampo, Mexico, around 0500 UTC on 29 September 2012. At landfall it was a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds near 30 knots (about 35 mph). After crossing the mainland briefly the small system moved back over the Gulf of California before losing tropical characteristics.

The storm’s analyzed peak intensity was 45 knots (about 52 mph) with a best-track minimum central pressure of 997 mb, reached at 0600 and 1200 UTC on 28 September. That peak corresponds to a moderate tropical storm (below hurricane strength).

Storm surge reports were limited; there were no detailed surge footprints in the report. Measured winds of tropical-storm force were recorded offshore and on islands: Isla Maria Madre measured a 32-kt sustained wind at 0830 UTC on 28 September, and several ships reported gusts to tropical-storm force. Heavy rain and flooding were reported across multiple Mexican states, including Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Baja California Sur, Durango, and Zacatecas, and many roads were impassable in the city of La Paz.

No fatalities were reported in association with Norman, and no monetary damage estimates were given. The storm’s development was reasonably well predicted in advance; the disturbance was first noted in forecasts about 2.5 days before formation and warnings were issued for mainland Mexico from La Cruz to Huatabampo on 28 September.