Hurricane Polo rapidly gained strength off the southwestern coast of Mexico on Tuesday, becoming a formidable Category 5 storm. This escalation could lead to dangerous flooding in parts of Guerrero and Michoacán, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Polo’s sustained winds soared from 150 mph to 160 mph by Tuesday morning. The hurricane may grow stronger through Wednesday.
As of 6 a.m., the storm was situated approximately 220 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and 360 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima. The hurricane was moving eastward near Mexico’s Pacific Coast at 6 mph.
The hurricane center warned of potential life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain regions. A tropical storm watch covered the Mexican Coast from Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero, to Manzanillo. Issued watches signify probable tropical storm conditions within 48 hours in the specified area.
Forecasters predict Polo will continue on its course before sharply turning northwest by Tuesday night and Wednesday. While expected to remain offshore early Tuesday, it will likely deliver heavy rainfall and significant flood threats to coastal areas positioned on steep terrains.
Rainfall estimates predict Guerrero and Michoacán could receive 4 to 8 inches, potentially reaching 12 inches in isolated areas through Thursday. An additional 3 to 6 inches of rain could impact coastal areas in Oaxaca, Colima, and Jalisco within the same period.
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