Hurricane Polo threatens flooding and mudslides in Mexico
Hurricane Polo approached Mexico’s Baja California Sur with sustained winds of 115 mph, threatening life-threatening floods, mudslides and high waves. Residents evacuated vulnerable areas and authorities closed ports, suspended travel and prepared shelters, while another storm, Nolo, continued to bring heavy rain risks to Hawaii.
Hurricane Polo threatened high winds, flooding and mudslides as it approached Mexico’s Baja California Sur on Monday. The US National Hurricane Centre said Polo was a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. Forecasters expected it to reach major hurricane strength near Baja California Sur before making landfall on mainland Mexico late Monday or early Tuesday.
Residents in coastal communities boarded up homes and reinforced embankments. Some families in Puerto San Carlos planned to move to shelters in Ciudad Constitucion, while others were evacuated. Mexico’s Civil Protection Agency warned residents to stay indoors if their homes were at risk.
Travel was to be suspended in the expected landfall area, and ports across the region were closed. The Mexican navy assembled personnel and humanitarian aid in Guaymas and Mazatlán and deployed vessels that could assist isolated coastal communities. Residents in San Juanico feared that damaged roads could block access to medical services.
Separately, Hurricane Nolo was moving away from Hawaii, but high-surf and wind advisories remained in effect. Its outer bands could cause dangerous flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island forecast to receive up to 20 inches of rain. Tropical Storm Rachel also formed off Mexico’s southwest coast.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect for Rachel.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.