Hurricane Polo path is drawing close attention as the storm rapidly intensified into a Category 5 system off southwestern Mexico on Tuesday, with the U.S. National Hurricane Center warning of life-threatening flooding in parts of Guerrero and Michoacán. Forecasters described Polo as extremely dangerous after maximum sustained winds climbed to 165 mph. While its strength may fluctuate over the next few days, the storm is expected to remain a very powerful major hurricane centered offshore.
Hurricane Polo path
By Tuesday evening, Polo was positioned off the coast near Zihuatanejo in Guerrero and Manzanillo in Colima. The hurricane was producing hurricane-force winds up to 35 miles from the center. After edging north along the Pacific coast through the morning, the system became roughly stationary later in the day.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach portions of the coastline beginning Wednesday morning. The hurricane center cautioned that heavy rain could trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain. The system remains well south of the Baja California peninsula.
Mexico issued a tropical storm warning from Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero, to Punta San Telmo, Michoacán. A tropical storm watch is in effect from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula in Jalisco. Officials said areas under a warning should prepare for tropical storm conditions to begin early Wednesday, while locations under a watch could see those conditions by Thursday.
Forecasters expect Polo to turn sharply toward the northwest Tuesday night into Wednesday, bringing the hurricane’s core near the southwestern Mexican coastline in the coming days.
Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are forecast in parts of Guerrero and Michoacán through Thursday, with localized amounts up to 8 inches possible. Coastal areas of Oaxaca, Colima, and Jalisco could receive 2 to 4 inches during the same period. Dangerous surf and rip currents are also expected along the southwestern Mexico coast.