Baja-bound Norbert hits Category 4 status

MIAMI, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Pacific Hurricane Norbert reached Category 4 status Wednesday as it headed toward the Baja California Peninsula, U.S. forecasters in Miami said.

At 2 p.m. PDT, Norbert was 445 miles south of the southern tip of the peninsula, moving west-northwest near 9 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The storm was expected to veer to the northwest by Wednesday night and then turn to the north Thursday night or Friday, forecasters predicted.

A gradual turn to the north would set the storm's path toward the peninsula and the center urged people in the vicinity to monitor reports.

Norbert was producing sustained winds of 135 mph with higher gusts, the center reported. Hurricane force winds extend 35 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend 145 miles.

A five-day forecast shows post-tropical Norbert causing rain in southern Nevada, Arizona and eastern Texas by Monday morning.