The disturbance organized into a tropical depression on early on September 20, and later that day the storm reached its peak intensity of 50 mph (80 km/h), and subsequently made landfall to the west of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.

When the wave reached the eastern Pacific Ocean on September 16, it interacted with a pre-existing low-level circulation, which produced a large area of disturbed weather.

[5] Strengthening continued, and Norman attained peak winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), shortly prior to making landfall west of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, late on September 20.

[1] Initially, the storm was forecast to dissipate quickly over land, although the possibility was noted for a westward turn, due to an anticyclone located over central Mexico.

[7] Late on September 21, the poorly defined center of Norman emerged into open waters near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and subsequently turned northward.

The circulation remained close to the coastline, and at 1500 UTC on September 22, Norman made landfall near Mazatlán, Sinaloa, as a weak tropical depression.