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We observed damage to vegetation related to hurricane Nora in the Central Desert of Baja California Norte, Mexico, during late November 1997. The hurricane had crossed the Central Desert on September 24-29. In the El Crucero area, the hurricane blew over cirios (Fouquieria columnaris (Kell.) Curran), cardons (Pachycereus pringlei (S.Wats.) Britt. & Rose), and senitas (Lophocereus schottii (Engelm.) Britt. & Rose). Of these three, cirios were most frequently blown down. They were taller than the other plants at the site and often had stem or root damage that presumably weakened them, thus making them more susceptible. Precipitation that was much higher than normal probably soaked the upper soil profile, adding to the susceptibility of the taller plants to blowdown. This is the first record of tree blowdown from hurricanes in desert areas.