Hurricane Polo Makes Landfall in Mexico, Remnants to Merge with U.S. Storm System
The storm, which weakened to a Category 1 after its initial landfall in Baja California, is expected to bring significant moisture across a large portion of the United States.
Hurricane Polo made landfall in Baja California overnight and is forecast to make a second landfall on mainland Mexico on Tuesday.
Polo initially struck the Baja California Peninsula near Las Barrancas as a Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds between 96 and 110 mph. After crossing the peninsula, it was downgraded to a Category 1 storm.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries following the initial landfall. Polo developed as a Pacific hurricane on September 20, one of three hurricanes active in the Pacific Ocean at the same time.
The storm's remnants are expected to merge with an existing storm system over the U.S. on Tuesday, potentially supercharging moisture levels across a vast area. Near-record levels of moisture are being drawn from the Pacific, facilitated by strong flow from Polo.
More than 30 million people across a dozen states, stretching from California and Texas to Iowa, are under a flood watch as of Tuesday. Overnight, flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Utah and Arizona. Zion National Park experienced near-record flooding along the Virgin River and Heaps Canyon due to a flash flood wave Monday night. In Bullhead City, Arizona, water rescues were conducted Monday evening for a vehicle trapped in floodwaters.
