Hurricane Polo Slams Mexico's Pacific Coast with Torrential Rain and High Winds

Hurricane Polo unleashed torrential rain, destructive waves, and violent winds along Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday, with dramatic footage depicting flooded streets and damaged properties. The storm first made landfall around 11 p.m. Monday local time on the west coast of Baja California Sur, south of the small town of Las Barrancas, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

At landfall, Polo was a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds estimated between 90 to 95 knots, approximately 105 to 110 mph. By early Tuesday, the storm had weakened somewhat after moving over land but continued to produce hurricane-force winds. At 5 a.m. MST, its maximum sustained winds were recorded at 75 mph with higher gusts, located about 65 miles north-northwest of Loreto.

Hurricane-force winds extended up to 30 miles from the storm's center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching up to 90 miles. Videos shared by ABC Eyewitness News showed massive waves surging into a hotel restaurant in Playa Azul, while other footage captured powerful surf pounding coastal areas and floodwaters rushing through streets, with vehicles being moved by the force of the water.

The NHC warned that Polo's heavy rainfall could lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in mountainous regions. The storm was forecast to drop 6 to 12 inches of rain across parts of Baja California Sur, with an additional 4 to 6 inches, and isolated totals up to 8 inches, expected across southern and central Sonora.

Polo was moving northeast at approximately 10 mph early Tuesday and was projected to accelerate across the Gulf of California. A second landfall in southern Sonora was anticipated late Tuesday morning, with hurricane conditions expected across parts of mainland Mexico. While rapid weakening was expected once it moved inland over rugged terrain, Polo could still be a hurricane at landfall in Sonora.

A hurricane warning was in effect for portions of Baja California Sur and mainland Mexico, from Bahia Kino to Huatabampito. The storm was also predicted to cause dangerous storm surge and large, destructive waves along vulnerable coastlines.

Beyond its immediate impact, the remnants of Polo could affect areas farther north. Moisture from the storm is expected to contribute to heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and gusty winds across the southwestern U.S. and southern Plains, including southern New Mexico and far western Texas. Forecasters anticipate Polo will weaken into a post-tropical system by Wednesday and dissipate later that day. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to persist along parts of northwestern Mexico and Baja California for at least another day.