Hurricane Norbert heads up Mexico's Pacific coast, expected to brush Los Cabos

MEXICO CITY – Hurricane Norbert scattered rain along Mexico's Pacific coast on Thursday as it headed for a brush with the Los Cabos resorts.

Officials in Los Cabos closed schools and beaches and prepared emergency shelters, though the hurricane's center was expected to stay offshore as it roars past.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that Norbert had top sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph) Thursday afternoon and it was centered about 130 miles (210 kilometers) south-southwest of the Baja California peninsula.

Forecasters said Norbert, which reached hurricane strength Wednesday, was headed northwest at 7 mph (11 kph).

A tropical storm warning was in effect from La Paz to Cabo San Lazaro and Mexico's National Meteorological Service said Norbert could unleash intense rains over much of the country's northwest.