MIAMI — Hurricane Norbert is churning in the Pacific well off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said early Thursday that Norbert was packing top sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph). It’s centered about 165 miles (265 kilometers) south of the Baja peninsula.

Forecasters say Norbert, which reached hurricane strength Wednesday, is heading northwest near 6 mph (9 kph) and expected to approach the southern tip of the peninsula Thursday and trek nearly parallel to the Pacific coast Friday.

Forecasters say a tropical storm warning is in effect from La Paz to Cabo San Lazaro, while a tropical storm watch is in effect north of Cabo San Lazaro to Puerto San Andresito and north of La Paz to San Evaristo.