Tropical Storm Norman (2012)

{{storm path|Norman 2012 track.png}}

A tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic Ocean from the west coast of Africa on September 12. The wave moved westward across the Atlantic basin with minimal deep convection. By September 23, it reached the eastern Pacific Ocean and began increasing in shower and thunderstorm activity over the next few days. While located near Acapulco another burst in convection occurred on September 25, likely due to interaction with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).{{cite report|url={{NHC TCR url|id=EP142012_Norman}}|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Norman|author=John P. Cangialosi|date=December 11, 2012|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|pages=1–3|access-date=August 24, 2013|location=Miami, Florida|format=PDF}} Around that time, the National Hurricane Center began Tropical Weather Outlooks (TWOs) on the system,{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/gtwo/epac/201209251732/index.php?basin=epac¤t_issuance=201209251732|title=Tropical Weather Outlook|author=Daniel P. Brown|date=September 25, 2012|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=August 24, 2013|location=Miami, Florida}} which is information issued every six hours on significant areas of disturbed weather and their potential for development out to 48 hours.{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnhcprod.shtml#TWO|title=NHC Tropical Cyclone Text Product Descriptions|date=June 3, 2013|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|work=National Hurricane Center|access-date=August 24, 2013|location=Miami, Florida}} The tropical wave split on September 26, with the northern portion moving northwestward near the southwestern coast of Mexico. By September 27, the system had organized deep convection and was producing tropical storm force winds, but data from scatterometers indicated that it lacked a closed circulation. Although TWOs issued on September 27 predicted a high probability for development,{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/gtwo/epac/201209272033/index.php?basin=epac¤t_issuance=201209272033|title=Tropical Weather Outlook|author=David P. Roberts|date=September 27, 2012|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=August 24, 2013|location=Miami, Florida}} the chances for tropical cyclogenesis was decreased later that day, due to the system's close proximity to land.{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/gtwo/epac/201209272337/index.php?basin=epac¤t_issuance=201209272337|title=Tropical Weather Outlook|author=Robbie J. Berg|date=September 27, 2012|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=August 24, 2013|location=Miami, Florida}}

On September 28, satellite data and ships' observations indicated a closed circulation.{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2012/ep14/ep142012.discus.001.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Norman Discussion Number 1|author=Michael J. Brennan and David P. Roberts|date=September 28, 2012|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=August 24, 2013|location=Miami, Florida}} Thus, Tropical Storm Norman developed at 0600 UTC, while located about {{convert|115|mi|km|abbr=on|round=5}} southeast of Cabo San Lucas. Initially, the storm was expected to intensify slightly before making landfall on September 29 and then dissipate on the following day. However, upon developing into a tropical cyclone at 1200 UTC on September 28, Norman attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Thereafter, Norman began heading northward between a mid-to upper-level low to its west and a mid-level ridge over the Gulf of Mexico. Later on September 28, the storm entered the Gulf of California and began weakening due to a significant increase in wind shear and interaction with land. Around that time, the cloud pattern became less organized and convection was being displaced from the circulation.{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2012/ep14/ep142012.discus.002.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Norman Discussion Number 2|author=Michael J. Brennan and David P. Roberts|date=September 28, 2012|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=August 24, 2013|location=Miami, Florida}} Early on September 29, the storm curved northwestward and was downgraded to a tropical depression due to difficulty in locating the center of circulation and significant disorganization.{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2012/ep14/ep142012.discus.003.shtml?|title=Tropical Depression Norman Discussion Number 3|author=Robbie J. Berg and Lixion A. Avila|date=September 29, 2012|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=August 24, 2013|location=Miami, Florida}} Norman made landfall near Topolobampo with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) at 0500 UTC on September 29. Shortly thereafter, the storm re-curved west-northwestward and re-emerged into the Gulf of California. Norman degenerated into a remnant low pressure area at 1200 UTC on September 29. The remnant low moved slowly west-southwestward, before dissipating over Baja California Sur near Loreto on September 30.

File:Tropical Storm Norman Remnants 30 Sep 2012.jpg

The Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning along the Pacific coast of Mexico from La Cruz, Sinaloa to Huatabampo at 1500 UTC on September 28. Early on the following day, the tropical storm warning was discontinued. An orange alert" (high risk) was issued for parts of the state of Sinaloa, and a yellow alert was in effect for Baja California Sur, and green alert was declared for southern Sonora. A "blue alert", minimum risk, was issued for north-central Sonora, Durango, Chihuahua and Zacatecas.{{cite news|title=Tormenta tropical "Norman" se forma frente a costas de México|url=http://www.prensalibre.com/internacional/Tormenta-tropical-Norman-costas-Mexico_0_782321936.html|access-date=September 28, 2012|newspaper=Prensalibre|date=September 28, 2012|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=es|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012053217/http://www.prensalibre.com/internacional/Tormenta-tropical-Norman-costas-Mexico_0_782321936.html|url-status=dead}} Officials deployed 400 soldiers in the cities of La Paz and Los Cabos. According to the state director of Civil Protection, Carlos Enriquez Rincon, 500 schools were available to operate as temporary shelters. The shelters have a capacity of around 30,000 people, though only 65 people spent the first night of the storm in shelters. Furthermore, a total of 5,000 food packages were sent to residents.{{cite news|title=Activan Plan DN3 en BCS por tormenta Norman|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873361.html|access-date=October 11, 2013|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 28, 2012|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=es}} In the mainland, authorities in the municipality of Culiacán opened 53 shelters, with a total capacity of over 7,000.{{cite news|title=Norman se degrada a depresión tropical|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873488.html|access-date=September 29, 2012|author=EFE|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 28, 2012|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=es}} In addition, classes were suspended in 5 states.{{cite news|title=Alertan peligrosidad de tormenta tropical Norman|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873351.html|access-date=September 29, 2012|author=Gladys Rodrígue|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 28, 2012|location=La Paz, Baja California Sur|language=es}}

Tropical Storm Norman brought extremely heavy rains to Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Baja California Sur, Durango, and Zacatecas. The ports of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo were closed for boats and water activities. In the former, {{convert|15|-|20|ft|m|abbr=on}} waves were recorded.{{cite news|title=Tormenta tropical Norman: a 100 km. de Los Cabos|url=http://noticabos.org/2012/09/28/tormenta-tropical-norman-a-100-km-de-los-cabos/|access-date=August 25, 2013|newspaper=noticabos.org|author=Giusttav|date=September 28, 2012|language=es}} Due to mudslides and wash flooding{{cite news|title=Colonias en BCS, incomunicadas por Norman|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873466.html|access-date=August 25, 2013|author=Gladys Rodríguez Navarro|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 28, 2012|location=La Paz, Baja California Sur|language=es}} over 24 cars were swept away in La Paz.{{cite news|title=Sinaloa: desalojan a 150 familias por "Norman"|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873496.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001082800/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873496.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2012|access-date=August 25, 2013|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 29, 2012|language=es}} In Sinaloa, the rains caused by Norman did not represent an important contribution to the 11 dams in the state, with mean water levels rising from 42.5% to 42.6%.{{cite news|title="Norman" deja de ser una amenaza: SMN|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/87977.html|access-date=September 30, 2012|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 30, 2012|language=es}} Eight fisherman were rescued near the port of Mazatlan when their boat tipped over. Five fisherman were initially reported missing; however, following the passage of the storm, the missing people were later found alive.{{cite news|title=Se extravian 5 pescadores tras paso de Norman|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873546.html|author=Javier Cabrera Martinez|access-date=August 25, 2013|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 29, 2012|location=Culiacán, Sinola|language=es}}{{cite news|title="Norman" deja de ser una amenaza: SMN|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873605.html

|author=Correspondents|access-date=September 30, 2012|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 30, 2012|language=es}} Street flooding was also reported.{{cite news|title=Tormenta Norman causa inundaciones en Mazatlán|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/873376.html|access-date=August 25, 2013|author=Yovana Gaxiola|newspaper=El Universal|date=September 28, 2012|location=Mazatlán, Sinola|language=es}} A total of 150 families were evacuated in two fishing villages along the mainland. Following the storm, a state of emergency was declared for the municipalities of Los Cabos, Angostura, and Navolato.{{cite news|title=Segob declara emergencia en BCS y Sinaloa|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/876053.html|access-date=October 11, 2013|newspaper=El Universal|date=October 11, 2012|language=es}}

The remnants of Norman brought record rains to Texas.{{cite news|author=Todd Hill|title=Under the Weather: Should we worry about Norman?|url=http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20121001/NEWS01/121001001/Under-Weather-Should-we-worry-about-Norman-?odyssey=tab|access-date=October 1, 2012|newspaper=Mansfield News Journal|date=October 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208162426/http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20121001/NEWS01/121001001/Under-Weather-Should-we-worry-about-Norman-?odyssey=tab|archive-date=December 8, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2245|title=Jelawat hits Okinawa; TS Norman feeds heavy rains in Texas|author=Jeff Masters|access-date=October 1, 2012|date=September 29, 2012|publisher=Weather Underground}} A peak rainfall total of {{convert|8.4|in|mm|abbr=on}} fell on La Pryor. At Camp Mabry in Austin, {{convert|1.38|in|mm}} of rain fell in a 24‑hour period, breaking a daily precipitation record set in 1985. However, across the central portion of the state, rainfall from the system was less than expected. A few roads in Wimberley were temporarily closed due to flooding.{{cite news|author=Steven Kreytak|title=Saturday brings less rain than expected to Central Texas|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/saturday-brings-less-rain-than-expected-to-central/nSP88/|access-date=October 1, 2012|newspaper=American-Statesman Staff|date=September 30, 2012}} One woman was killed in Nacogdoches County after her car was swept off a roadway.{{cite news|last=Brett Collar|title=Nacogdoches Co. woman dies during early morning flood|url=http://www.ktre.com/story/19678504/etx-woman-dies-during-early-morning-flood|access-date=October 1, 2012|newspaper=KTRE|date=September 30, 2012}} A tornado warning was also issued in the Corpus Christi area.

• Other storms of the same name
• 2012 Pacific hurricane season
• Timeline of the 2012 Pacific hurricane season

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Category:2012 Pacific hurricane season

Category:Eastern Pacific tropical storms

Category:Pacific hurricanes in Mexico

Norman