Three hurricanes, Polo, Nolo, and Odalys, are active in the Pacific Ocean. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns of potential heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the southwestern U.S. by this weekend and into the next week. A map from the National Weather Service (NWS) Phoenix, Arizona, highlights increased rainfall probability on Wednesday and Thursday across Arizona, New Mexico, northern Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas.
The NWS Phoenix noted a model projection indicating how Polo and Odalys will interact with a weather system to bring heavy rain to much of the Desert Southwest early next week, raising the risk of flash flooding.
Hurricane Polo
Hurricane Polo is expected to hit Baja California Sur, Mexico, early next week. The NHC predicts life-threatening flooding and mudslides from Sunday onwards. Dangerous surf and rip currents are also expected along parts of northwest Mexico and Baja California for the coming days.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Saturday, Polo had maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, classifying it as a category four hurricane. It is moving west-northwest at about nine miles per hour.
Hurricane Odalys
Hurricane Odalys is located west and slightly north of Polo, with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour, moving north at seven miles per hour. The NHC forecasts that southern swells from Odalys will affect the southwestern U.S. through the middle of next week, overlapping Hurricane Polo’s impact.
The Pacific has seen an unusual number of hurricanes this year due to the El Niño climate pattern, which raises water temperatures in the Pacific near the equator, providing ideal conditions for hurricanes.
Hurricane Nolo
Hurricane Nolo, further west, has sustained winds of 105 miles per hour and is located south of Hawaii. Tropical storm conditions are present, with hurricane conditions likely later today, especially in steep terrain. Nolo was upgraded to a hurricane on Thursday night. Heavy rain is forecast for the Big Island and eastern Maui over the weekend, posing a risk for significant flooding and mudslides in steep southern and eastern areas. Gusty winds are also expected across the Hawaiian Islands throughout the weekend.
Nor’easter Threat
A powerful Nor’easter storm is predicted along the North American East Coast this weekend, according to the NWS’s Weather Prediction Center. The storm is expected to intensify off the Mid-Atlantic Coast on Saturday, before moving towards the New Jersey coast by late Saturday and Sunday.
Residents should prepare for major coastal flooding over multiple high tide cycles, impacting low-lying areas, roads, homes, and businesses in Southern New England and the Carolinas. Gale-force winds, with gusts between 45-65 miles per hour, could cause power outages for Eastern Long Island and Southwestern New England.
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