After turning northwestward, the typhoon underwent a period of rapid intensification, during which its central pressure decreased by 77 mb (hPa; 2.27 inHg) in 24 hours.

The Philippines and Taiwan sustained the most extensive losses from Typhoon Nora, with 36 people losing their lives collectively.

[4] By the evening of October 5, Nora had attained winds in excess of 260 km/h (160 mph), ranking it as a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.

At 0020 UTC on October 6, a dropsonde released by the reconnaissance team recorded a surface pressure of 877 mb (hPa; 25.91 inHg) just inside the eyewall of the typhoon.

[1] This intensity ranked Nora as the most-intense tropical cyclone on record in the world, alongside Typhoon Ida in 1958.

However, in post-storm analysis, it was noted that since the dropsonde did not record a pressure at the storm's center, Nora was likely slightly stronger than indicated.

[1][4] That morning, Nora turned more northwesterly in response to a weakening in a subtropical ridge and an approaching shortwave trough over China.

[1] Steady weakening continued over the following days, with the storm brushing the northeastern tip of Luzon, Philippines, with winds of 175–185 km/h (110–115 mph) on October 7.

[1] After passing within 95 km (60 mi) of Taiwan, Nora turned more northerly before making landfall near Xiamen, Fujian as a minimal typhoon early on October 10.

[10] Brushing the coast of Luzon in the Philippines as a Category 3-equivalent typhoon, Nora caused considerable damage in the region.

[11] Heavy rains from the storm, peaking at 338 mm (13.3 in) in Baguio,[2] triggered significant flooding and caused a breach in the Arnedo Dike in Apalit, Pampanga.

[1] Nora was the first of three typhoons to impact the Philippines in the span of a week, with Patsy and Ruth striking the country on October 12 and 15 respectively.

Additionally, the Taiwanese fishing vessel Jai Tai NR3 became stranded amid 9.1 m (30 ft) seas, with its bow split open.