on September 20 and attained peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) twelve hours later, as a large but well-defined eye became apparent. It began steady weakening shortly thereafter as the storm entered cooler waters, falling to tropical storm intensity early on September 21 and further to tropical depression status early the next day as a mid-level ridge forced it back west. Max degenerated to a remnant low by 18:00 UTC on September 22, which then drifted south before dissipating on September 26. Tropical Storm Norma An area of disturbed weather formed south of Mexico on September 19, followed by the formation of a broad area of low pressure within the disturbance two days later. A few small vortices were observed within the broad low over subsequent days, one of which cled to the formation of a tropical depression by 00:00 UTC on September 23. On a west-northwest course, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Norma twelve hours later and ultimately attained peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) by 18:00 UTC on September 24 as the circulation became centrally located within the convection and banding features developed. Norma turned northwest as easterly wind shear increased, causing it to weaken to a tropical depression by 18:00 UTC on September 26 and degenerate to a remnant low a day later. The low turned south and east, persisting for several days before dissipating on October 1. Hurricane Otis A tropical wave moved off Africa on September 9, the northern half of which led to the formation of Hurricane Philippe. After emerging into the eastern Pacific nearly two weeks later, the system showed signs of organization, attaining tropical depression status by 00:00 UTC on September 28. It drifted west-southwest before turning northwest on September 29, at which time it intensified into Tropical Storm Otis. A favorable environment allowed the storm to become a hurricane early on September 30 and attain peak winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) by 06:00 UTC on October 1. Steering currents weakened after peak, allowing Otis to meander into cooler waters offshore the Baja California peninsula. It weakened to a tropical storm early on October 2, weakened to a tropical depression early on October 3, and degenerated to a remnant low by 00:00 UTC on October 4. The low drifted southwest and dissipated the next day. Although the center of Otis remained offshore, Cabo San Lucas recorded sustained winds