Although still a Category One storm, Hurricane Norbert has grown stronger as its eye passes south-southwest of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico and leaves massive flooding through parts of the country in its wake, weather experts report.

According to the most recent update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), issued on Friday September 5 at 5:00 p.m. PST, Norbert was located approximately 60 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lazaro and 185 miles west-northwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The storm is currently moving toward the northwest at 13 miles per hour.

A number of storm watches and warnings have recently been put into or remain in effect at this time.

A hurricane warning is in effect from Santa Fe to San Lazaro, Mexico. Tropical storm warnings are in place from San Evaristo to south of Santa Fe, Mexico and from north of Cabo San Lazaro to Loreto, Mexico. A tropical storm watch has been issued from north of San Evaristo to Loreto, Mexico.

To specify, a hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are imminently expected somewhere within the warning area. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area. Lastly, a tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.

Back to storm specifics, as of 5:00 p.m. PST, the eye of Hurricane Norbert was located near latitude 24.0 north and longitude 112.6 west. Norbert is moving on a northwesterly track and this general motion is expected to continue through Sunday.

In terms of the storm's forecast track, the eye of the hurricane will continue moving nearly parallel to and just off shore from the Pacific coastline of the Southern Baja California Peninsula, heading in the direction of south-facing beaches in southern California.

The current maximum sustained winds from the storm are being measured at approximately 100 miles per hour with higher gusts being recorded. Hurricane force winds are extending outward 45 miles from the storm's center and tropical storm force winds are extending outward upwards of 140 miles.

In terms of rainfall, Norbert is expected to drop between three and six inches over the southern part of the Baja California Peninsula with isolated amounts of up to 10 inches through Saturday.

"Hurricane Norbert continues to churn, threatening the shoreline of Southern California," said AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Leister. "Norbert is expected to begin a gradual weakening trend late on Friday as it moves over increasingly cool water  

Although the storm is weakening, it will continue to have a strong effect on ocean surf and currents. The large swells that Norbert has brought to the southwestern coast of Mexico and the southern portion of the Gulf of California are expected to subside slowly through Sunday. 

However, large swells will continue to affect the coast of the Southern Baja California Peninsula, speeding northward along the west coast of the peninsula through the weekend.

According to a report from AccuWeather, minor coastal flooding can be expected from San Diego up to Point Conception in the coming days and dangerous rip currents are especially likely through this weekend. Conditions will reportedly improve by early next week but rip currents may continue to pose a risk through Monday.

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