Will Norbert Be the Rare Cyclone to Hit California?

With Hurricane Norbert tracking up the Baha coast toward the U.S. border, weather officials from San Diego to Los Angeles are warning of the risk of thunderstorms, flooding, and even deadly "sneaker waves." To locals thinking Say what?, don't worry, it's not your imagination—it is pretty rare that a tropical cyclone makes its influence felt in Southern California.

That's not to say that Norbert will directly hit the States. A recent assessment from the National Hurricane Center sees the storm weakening as it moves north, though it's possible some of its moisture-dripping remnants could bring "heavy rains and life-threatening flash flooding" to the Southwest early next week. But if whatever's left of Norbert did make it to SoCal, it would be the first time a named Pacific storm overshadowed the region since 1997, when the remains of Hurricane Nora tore through lower California to knock down trees as far away as Utah.