Storm could drop up to 10 inches of rain on Baja California Sur
Hurricane Polo was churning through the eastern Pacific on Friday as a powerful Category 5 storm, the National Hurricane Center said in its 2 p.m. MST update. A Category 5 hurricane has winds of at least 157 mph; Polo’s maximum sustained winds reached 180 mph.
The storm was located about 320 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, and about 395 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, moving west at 10 mph.
The NHC described Polo’s expected path in a forecast advisory: “This motion is expected to continue this evening, followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest on Saturday and north on Sunday.” The agency added, “By Monday, Polo is forecast to turn northeastward and approach Baja California Sur.”
The storm was forecast to make landfall along the peninsula around midday Monday as a Category 2 hurricane or weaker, before traveling across Mexico and into Texas as a tropical depression on Wednesday.
While no watches or warnings were in place Friday afternoon, the NHC said interests in Baja California Sur should monitor the hurricane’s progress.
Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 35 miles from Polo’s eye, and tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 140 miles.
The storm is expected to produce 4 to 8 inches of rain across portions of Baja California Sur, with isolated totals up to 10 inches. The NHC warned that the rainfall could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides in the region.
Southwestern Mexico is also expected to experience surf swells, including possible life-threatening rip currents, the agency said.