Key facts
- Hurricane Polo intensified to Category 5 strength off Mexico's Pacific coast.
- Maximum sustained winds are 165 mph (270 km/h), with gusts higher.
- The storm's minimum central pressure is 920 mb (27.17 inches).
- Polo is expected to remain offshore but skirt the coast of southwestern Mexico.
- Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area by early Wednesday.
- Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are possible due to heavy rainfall.
Hurricane Polo intensified to a Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday, with maximum sustained winds reaching 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 920 mb (27.17 inches), according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving slowly and is expected to remain offshore while skirting the coast of southwestern Mexico through the middle of the week.
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged vigilance, noting that while direct landfall is not expected, the hurricane poses significant risks. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo, and a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for areas west of Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula. These conditions are expected to arrive within the next 36 to 48 hours.
Polo is forecast to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches across coastal portions of Guerrero and Michoacán, with isolated amounts up to 8 inches, potentially causing life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Swells generated by the hurricane are also expected to cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions along the coast.