Hurricane Norman (1978)

Hurricane Norman

Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Norman at peak intensity
Formed	August 30, 1978
Dissipated	September 6, 1978
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h)
Fatalities	4 indirect, 17 missing
Damage	$300 million (1978 USD)
Areas affected	California, Nevada, Arizona
Part of the 1978 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Norman was the most recent tropical system to make landfall in California. The 14th named storm, 11th hurricane and 6th major hurricane of the 1978 Pacific hurricane season, Norman evolved from a tropical disturbance noted 400 mi (640 km) southeast of Acapulco on the afternoon of August 29. The system moved westward and developed into a tropical depression on August 30. Modest strengthening ensued, and the cyclone became a tropical storm that evening and a hurricane on the evening of August 31 as it turned to the west-northwest. Late on the night of September 1, Norman became a major hurricane with a 40-mile-wide eye, and a nearby ship reported seas of 41 ft (12 m). The center grazed the northeast side of Socorro Island on the afternoon of September 2. Moving over cooler waters west of Baja California, the cyclone slowly weakened. By early on September 4, moisture from the hurricane spread north into California initiating rains in the Golden State. A developing trough to its west caused the initial influx of moisture and Norman's turn to the north as a weakening tropical storm. Eventually turning north-northeast towards southern California, the cyclone did eventually turn north-northeast towards southern California, and the cyclone weakened to a tropical depression as it passed the 30th parallel. Hurricane Norman made landfall in California on September 5, as a minimal tropical depression. The tropical cyclone became a remnant low shortly after California landfall, and the final advisory was issued at 00:00 GMT, on September 6. Over 7.01 in (178 mm) of rain occurred in the Sierra Nevada range. Rare snowfall was also reported.

This system evolved from a tropical disturbance noted 400 miles southeast of Acapulco on the afternoon of August 29th. The system moved westward and developed into a tropical depression on the 30th. Modest strengthening ensued, and the cyclone became a tropical storm that evening and a hurricane on the evening of the 31st as it turned to the west-northwest.