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Mexico braced for lethal storms Norbert batters Mexican peninsula
(about 5 hours later)
A hurricane set to hit the west coast of Mexico has weakened slightly but remains "life-threatening", meteorologists have warned. Hurricane Norbert has struck Mexico's Baja California Sur peninsula with heavy rains and 103mph (165km/h) winds.
The US National Hurricane Center has downgraded Hurricane Norbert, with wind speeds of up 110 mph (175 km/h), from Category 3 to 2. The US National Hurricane Center said Norbert made landfall near the city of La Paz.
Norbert is due to hit Mexico's Baja California peninsula in the Pacific on Saturday. "It's blowing down roofs and destroying things in its path," said civil protection chief Jose Gajon.
Forecasters have warned of torrential rain and the threat of mud slides. Forecasters expect the Category 2 storm to cross the peninsula and make a second landfall on Saturday night on Mexico's north-western mainland.
Reports say the storm is creating 13ft (four-metre) waves.
"We expect Norbert to move over the Baja California Sur peninsula later Saturday before it enters the Gulf of California and then hits Sonora state," the National Hurricane Center said.
People evacuated
Mr Gajon said about 1,000 people were in shelters in Baja California Sur and they expected more.
"If it is necessary, we will use authorities to take to shelters those who refuse to go," he said.
Rescue teams have already evacuated people from homes made from wooden boards and sheet metal in low-lying areas.
Residents fled to shelters as floodwaters rose in their homes.
"We left our house because we were scared. Our house is pretty poor and the water was already coming in," said Maria Espinosa, 54, who arrived at a high school with her daughter and two grandchildren.
Earlier, meteorologists downgraded Hurricane Norbert from Category 3 to 2 but said it remains "life-threatening".
"Preparations to protect life and property in the hurricane warning areas should be rushed to completion," said a public advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami."Preparations to protect life and property in the hurricane warning areas should be rushed to completion," said a public advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Mexican authorities have issued warnings and are preparing an emergency plan. The hurricane's heavy rainfall could result in "life-threatening flash floods and mud slides", the centre warned.
Meteorologists said the hurricane was likely to produce rainfall of up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) in some parts of southern Baja California which could result in "life-threatening flash floods and mud slides". It added that storm surge flooding of up to five feet above normal tide levels and large and dangerous battering waves were also expected on the coast.
Storm surge flooding of up to five feet (1.5 metres) above normal tide levels and large and dangerous battering waves are also expected on the coast, the centre warned.
'Very worried'
Reports said fishermen in the area were pulling in their boats and tourists were being warned to stay off the beaches where yellow flags have been placed.
Fishermen take precautions as Hurricane Norbert approaches
Narciso Agundez, the Governor of Baja California Sur state - one of the two states that make up the peninsula - told the Associated Press news agency that officials there are "very worried".
The advisory said that the centre of the hurricane was 80 miles (130 km) south of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico at 1200 GMT.
The hurricane is heading in a north-east direction towards the peninsula said the centre, adding steady weakening was expected as it moved across the peninsula, over the Gulf of California before hitting the north-western coast of mainland Mexico on Saturday night.
"However, Norbert could still be a hurricane when it makes a second landfall along the north-western coast of mainland Mexico," said the advisory.