Hurricane Nora sweeps past Puerto Vallarta, heads north

Hurricane Nora was a hurricane that formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday. It passed through Puerto Vallarta, following a path it could follow for close encounters with resorts further north.

Hurricane Nora sweeps past Puerto Vallarta, heads north

Nora sustained winds at 75 mph (120 km/h) late Saturday. Tropical storm force winds extended out to 105 miles (165 km). It was located approximately 50 miles (85 km) north-northwest from Puerto Vallarta and headed north at 16 mph (26.6 kph).

Forecasters advised that the perilous surf and flooding dangers along Mexico's northern and central Pacific Coasts should be taken seriously. Mexican authorities in Jalisco, Mexico, where Nora crossed the cape south from Puerto Vallarta, reported that there are no early reports of any serious damage.

Forecasters predicted that the weakening remnants could bring rains to the U.S. Southwest next week and the central Rockies.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Nora would move along the coast before becoming a tropical storm. It will then head into the narrow Gulf of California and pass close to Mazatlan, a major tourist area. It was expected to move northward before weakening further, heading inland towards the Arizona border.

According to the center, rainfall could reach as high as 8-12 inches (20-30 centimeters) in some parts of Mexico's west coast. There may also be more extreme cases.

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