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Hurricane Polo Intensifies: Coastal Mexico Braces for Impact
22 Sep
Summary
- Hurricane Polo intensified into a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds.
- Heavy rain and flooding are forecast for southwestern Mexico states.
- The storm is expected to skirt the Mexican coast without making landfall.
Hurricane Polo rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm in the eastern Pacific late Monday, boasting maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center anticipate Polo could reach Category 5 strength by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Polo is currently tracking east-southeast at 5 mph and is projected to make a sharp turn, moving northwest and west-northwest. This path is expected to keep the storm offshore as it skirts the Mexican coast for several days.
A tropical storm watch has been issued for a portion of the coast, from Manzanillo in Colima state to Tecpan de Galeana in Guerrero state. Residents in Guerrero and Michoacán states should prepare for heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and landslides through Thursday.
Coastal areas in Oaxaca, Colima, and Jalisco may also experience some rainfall. As of late Monday, Polo was situated approximately 330 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo.
