Second-most intense east Pacific storm on record heads toward Baja California

Odisha braces for 200 mm of rain as Iberian heat extends into autumn

Hurricane Polo is churning across the eastern Pacific toward Mexico’s Baja California peninsula with maximum sustained winds of around 150 mph, after making landfall on September 24 in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacán state, according to a MetDesk analysis published by The Guardian. The storm is the second-most intense hurricane on record in the east Pacific basin, a status confirmed by a September 22 measurement of 892 millibars at its center.

Forecasters attribute Polo’s intensity to exceptionally warm waters across the Pacific Ocean, which are providing favorable conditions for the system to maintain its considerable strength. The storm is the latest in a Pacific hurricane season that has been notably active in recent months.

Polo is expected to turn toward the west-north-west before taking a more north-westerly trajectory on Saturday. Although some fluctuations in intensity are possible over the coming days, forecasters expect the storm to remain powerful as it tracks north-westward.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward approximately 40 miles from Polo’s center, while tropical storm-force winds reach as far as 125 miles. These winds, combined with torrential rainfall and dangerous seas, could bring significant impacts to coastal areas.

Beyond the eastern Pacific, separate weather systems are affecting communities across the globe. In India, a deep 988-millibar low-pressure system — classified as a tropical storm — is centered along the country’s east coast, bringing widespread and potentially disruptive weather to Odisha state and surrounding areas.

Forecast models suggest rainfall totals in the affected region could exceed 200 mm in some locations over a 24-hour period, with hourly rates potentially exceeding 30 mm in the heaviest downpours. Such intense rainfall could cause significant surface water and localized flooding, particularly in low-lying areas and places with poor drainage.

Strong, gusty winds reaching around 50-60 mph are forecast to affect coastal parts of Odisha, creating hazardous conditions in exposed areas and potentially disrupting travel, infrastructure, and power supplies. Authorities have closed numerous schools across the affected districts for safety reasons.

In Iberia, the relentless heat of summer is extending into meteorological autumn, with temperatures rising into the high 30s Celsius on September 23. Alvega, in Portugal, recorded a maximum temperature of 41.7 °C, a reading that according to The Guardian shattered many July records from previous decades.