Hurricane Nora skirting Mexico coast

MEXICO CITY >> Hurricane Nora formed off Mexico’s Pacific coast Saturday and later made landfall near the Puerto Vallarta area, following a path that could also take it for a possible close encounter with the resorts at the tip of Baja California peninsula.

Nora had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph early Saturday evening, with tropical storm force winds extending out 160 miles in some places. It was centered about 30 miles south-southwest of Puerto Vallara, and heading to the north at 14 mph.

The storm’s large wind field and heavy rains meant much of Mexico’s central and northern Pacific Coast could see flooding, mudslides and perilous surf even if it missed the very heart of the hurricane.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center’s forecast track showed Nora crossing the bay sheltering Puerto Vallarta during the night, then hugging the coast while heading toward the narrow Gulf of California, possibly passing near Los Cabos.