Category 5 Hurricane Polo Threatens Mexico as Landfall Looms

NOAA

Hurricane Polo was a Category 5 storm Friday evening.

Hurricane Polo strengthened back to Category 5 on Saturday as it moved away from Mexico's Pacific coast, before forecasters warned it was expected to turn back and make landfall in Baja California Sur on Monday.

On Saturday morning, the hurricane was about 425 miles south-west of the Mexican resort town of Cabo Corrientes, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and moving north-west at 10 mph, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters said Polo was expected to curve back towards Mexico and strike Baja California Sur before continuing inland.

AccuWeather said the hurricane could make a second landfall about 24 hours later along the coast of north-western mainland Mexico, increasing the risk of life-threatening flash flooding.

The storm is expected to affect parts of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Sonora and Chihuahua, with authorities monitoring the situation as the powerful hurricane approaches.

The hurricane’s heavy rain and strong winds along Mexico’s ‌Pacific ⁠coast forced evacuations, port closures and school cancellations this week. In the resort city of San Jose del Cabo, police officers restricted access to a beach on Friday as the hurricane generated high waves ⁠and dangerous surf conditions.

Hurricane conditions are possible on Monday afternoon from Punta Eugenia to Santa Fe in Baja California, the NHC said.

Polo is ⁠expected to dump 4 to 8 inches of rain across parts of Baja California Sur, with maximum amounts of 10 ⁠inches, which could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, the NHC said. It could also cause life-threatening surf, rip currents and coastal flooding.

Source: Reuters



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