Hurricane Norma Targets Mexico’s Los Cabos Resorts, While Hurricane Tammy Endangers Atlantic Islands

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Inhabitants of Mexico’s renowned Los Cabos resorts are hastily making preparations as Hurricane Norma advances toward the southern extremity of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, with expected landfall on Saturday. Concurrently, Hurricane Tammy poses a significant risk to the Lesser Antilles islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

Local businesses in Cabo San Lucas fortified their windows with plywood sheets, and authorities erected banners cautioning people against crossing ravines and waterways, following Norma’s intensification into a major storm on Friday.

By early hours of Saturday, Hurricane Norma experienced a slight weakening and was reclassified as a Category 2 storm, based on the hurricane wind scale. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, it was situated 30 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, sustaining winds of 100 mph and moving at a pace of 8 mph.

The storm’s sluggish movement increased the likelihood of severe flooding. Forecasters expect Norma to deliver between six and 12 inches of rain, with isolated areas receiving up to 18 inches, primarily affecting southern Baja California and a large portion of Sinaloa state.

The National Civil Protection Agency reported that shelters in Baja California accommodated approximately 1,500 individuals as of Saturday morning. The Civil Defense agency of Los Cabos advised locals to remain indoors throughout the day as meteorological conditions deteriorated. Emergency responders were active in evacuating residents from vulnerable regions and relocating them to safe shelters.

Local law enforcement in San Jose del Cabo successfully rescued two individuals from a vehicle that had been carried away by a surging waterway early on Saturday.

Despite the imminent threat, Los Cabos hotels, predominantly patronized by international tourists, remained about 75% occupied, with no substantial exodus reported, according to Maribel Collins, Baja California Sur’s tourism secretary. Due to inclement weather, several flights were canceled on Friday, and airports remained closed on Saturday, per the local Civil Defense office’s information.

Approximately 40,000 tourists were estimated to still be in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo as of Friday. Restricted mobility options left visitors with little choice but to stay put. For example, a couple from San Diego remained in the area as their sports fishing tournament was postponed. The local port was also closed as a precautionary measure.

In preparation for the storm, José Ceseña, a local boat operator, took the precaution of removing his vessel from the water. Similarly, beaches were ordered closed, and National Guard troops were deployed to evacuate people from coastal areas.

The federal government dispatched 500 marines to assist in storm preparations, and municipal authorities indicated the potential for opening as many as 39 emergency shelters if required.

A formal hurricane warning was declared for the southern region of the Baja California Peninsula. Although expected to lose some of its intensity upon nearing land, Norma was not projected to weaken as much as initially anticipated.

Simultaneously, in the Atlantic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center stated that Hurricane Tammy maintained winds of 85 mph and was advancing at a speed of 8 mph. Hurricane warnings were issued for Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, and St. Kitts and Nevis. Tammy was predicted to maintain its strength, even showing signs of slight intensification as it moved closer to the Lesser Antilles over the weekend.

Tammy’s anticipated course would carry it close to Guadeloupe, Antigua, and Barbuda. Both Guadeloupe and Martinique are French overseas departments. The hurricane center indicated a high probability of substantial rainfall and resultant flooding across much of the Lesser Antilles.

Still grappling with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Phillippe, which struck two weeks ago, as well as the lingering devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017, residents of the affected islands were bracing for Tammy’s arrival. The slow-moving system was forecasted to bring as much as 12 inches of rain over the already saturated twin-island nation.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne advised residents to take all necessary precautions to protect lives and property, highlighting the elevated risk of flooding due to soil saturation. Government facilities, financial institutions, and most non-retail businesses ceased operations early on Friday, enabling staff to prepare for the impending hurricane.

Traffic congestion was evident throughout St. John’s and adjacent to major shopping locales as residents rushed to procure essential items. Local disaster management authorities announced intentions to open around 40 shelters throughout the affected communities.

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Contributions to this report were made by AP writer Anika Kentish in St. John’s, Antigua.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hurricane Preparedness

More about Hurricane Preparedness

• Hurricane Preparedness Guidelines
• U.S. National Hurricane Center Updates
• Baja California Civil Protection Agency
• Los Cabos Tourism Advisory
• Lesser Antilles Disaster Management
• Tropical Storm Phillippe Aftermath Report
• 2017 Hurricane Irma Impact Analysis
• Emergency Shelter Locations in Baja California
• Emergency Services Deployment in Natural Disasters
• Impact of Hurricanes on Infrastructure and Economy