Hurricane Polo Triggers Flood Warnings Across Five US States
Category 3 storm makes landfall in Mexico, with remnants expected to bring significant rainfall to the US Southwest.
Hurricane Polo, a powerful Category 3 storm, is poised to make landfall in Mexico Monday night, triggering flood watches and warnings for millions across at least five U.S. states. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued alerts for Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah, as forecasters anticipate heavy rainfall from the hurricane's remnants.
As of Monday morning, Hurricane Polo maintained sustained winds of 115 mph. While it is projected to strike the Baja California Peninsula first, its moisture is expected to spread across the U.S. Southwest, bringing potentially widespread rain throughout the week. Some areas in the Southwest could see as much as four inches of rain, according to AccuWeather.
The storm's effects are also expected to extend to parts of California, Nevada, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, and the Northern Plains states. The National Hurricane Center warned of the potential for life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas with steep terrain, as the storm moves through Baja California Sur and parts of Sonora.
Residents and tourists in the Baja California Peninsula are preparing for severe weather, with projections of wind gusts up to 120 mph, storm surges of 10 feet, and significant rainfall through Tuesday night. Polo has been a formidable storm, with sustained winds reaching 180 mph at its peak in the Pacific. At one point last week, the storm's intensity led meteorologists to speculate it could have met the criteria for a hypothetical Category 6 hurricane, with satellite estimates suggesting wind speeds near 196 mph.
Although Polo has weakened as it approaches Mexico, it is still anticipated to make landfall as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds up to 110 mph. The remnants are not expected to retain hurricane strength upon reaching the U.S. but will carry substantial rainfall.
