Storm Norma became a hurricane on Friday evening as it barreled towards the southernmost reaches of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, the National Hurricane Center, NHC, said.

At 0300 GMT, Norma was 435 km south of Cabo San Lucas and moving north north-west at 4 kilometres per hour, and that Category 1 storm was blowing maximum sustained winds of 121 km/h, Reuters reported the Miami-based NHC as saying.

Norma was expected to strengthen somewhat during the next couple of days, the NHC said.

"According to the NHC forecasts, Norma could hit southern parts of Baja California near to its popular tourist resorts by Monday, when it is projected to be weakening again," Reuters concluded.