Norma Downgraded to Tropical Storm as Hurricane Tammy Passes Bermuda for US East Coast
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Once a Category 4 hurricane, Norma has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues to move northeast, crossing the Gulf of California towards the Mexico mainland in the Sinaloa state. After making landfall on Saturday near the Pacific resort of Los Cabos as a Category 1 hurricane, Norma left tens of thousands without power before Hurricane Tammy passed Bermuda on its way to the US East Coast.
According to the US National Hurricane Center, Norma is currently about 120 miles west of Culiacan and about 65 miles south-southwest of Los Mochis. The storm is expected to continue moving northeastward across the Gulf of California with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The NHC has warned of heavy rains, flooding, and mudslides in Sinaloa and parts of the southern area of Baja California until at least Monday.
In Los Cabos, fallen trees have caused some street blockages, but fortunately, there has been no major damage reported. Tourists, who had taken shelter in hotels during the storm, have begun to re-emerge and some are planning to leave the area now that the hurricane is over. The San Jose del Cabo airport has resumed operations, allowing travelers to return to their destinations.
However, the situation is different in La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur. The airport remains closed due to heavy rainfall, making it impossible for anyone to leave the city. Numerous highways have also been blocked by streams of water with logs, dirt, and garbage, hindering access to the city. Security forces are actively searching for people in need of assistance.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Tammy passed Bermuda without causing any significant damage. A last-minute shift in its path spared the mainland from a direct hit, although Barbuda, a sister island, experienced the storm’s full force. Tammy made landfall on the island at around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, bringing heavy rain and winds up to 92 mph. Some power lines were knocked down, resulting in an island-wide blackout, and a few homes suffered minor damage. However, no major infrastructure damage was reported.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda expressed relief, stating that there were no significant injuries and that the rainfall brought much-needed relief to the island. The memory of Hurricane Irma, which devastated the island in 2017, still lingers in the minds of Barbudans.
Mainland Antigua, on the other hand, fared much better, with only a few broken branches and utility lines reported. Restoration work is still underway in Barbuda, and the timeline for power restoration is yet to be determined.
As Norma continues to move towards the Mexico mainland, authorities are on high alert and have deployed 5,000 marines to assist the affected areas with ships, helicopters, trucks, food, water, and first aid.
Residents in Sinaloa and Baja California are advised to take caution and heed any warnings or instructions issued by local authorities as the storm approaches.