 On September 28 , satellite data and ships ' observations indicated a closed circulation . Thus , Tropical Storm Norman developed at 0600 UTC , while located about 115 mi ( 185 km ) southeast of Cabo San Lucas . Initially , the storm was expected to intensify slightly before making landfall on September 29 and then dissipate on the following day . However , upon developing into a tropical cyclone at 1200 UTC on September 28 , Norman attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph ( 85 km / h ) . Thereafter , Norman began heading northward between a mid @-@ to upper @-@ level low to its west and a mid @-@ level ridge over the Gulf of Mexico . Later on September 28 , the storm entered the Gulf of California and began weakening due to a significant increase in wind shear and interaction with land . Around that time , the cloud pattern became less organized and convection was being displaced from the circulation . Early on September 29 , the storm curved northwestward and was downgraded to a tropical depression due to difficulty in locating the center of circulation and significant disorganization . Norman made landfall near Topolobampo with winds of 35 mph ( 55 km / h ) at 0500 UTC on September 29 . Shortly thereafter , the storm re @-@ curved west @-@ northwestward and re @-@ emerged into the Gulf of California . Norman degenerated into a remnant low pressure area at 1200 UTC on September 29 . The remnant low moved slowly west @-@ southwestward , before dissipating over Baja California Sur near Loreto on September 30 . 
