Key facts
- Hurricane Polo strengthened off Mexico's Pacific coast on Monday.
- The storm had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.
- Polo is forecast to become a major hurricane by Tuesday.
- Coastal parts of Guerrero and Michoacan states could receive 4 to 8 inches of rain through Thursday.
- Tropical moisture from Mexico is expected to threaten flash floods in the US Southwest.
Hurricane Polo strengthened off Mexico's Pacific coast on Monday, with forecasters predicting it could become a major storm by Tuesday. The storm was located around mid-day locally (1800 GMT) some 270 miles (435 km) south-southeast of the port city Manzanillo and 190 miles (305 km) south-southwest of the tourist town Zihuatanejo, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters said Polo could become a major hurricane by Tuesday and continue strengthening through midweek. While its core is expected to remain offshore, the storm is likely to lash parts of southwestern Mexico with torrential rain and hazardous seas. The NHC indicated that coastal areas of Guerrero and Michoacan states could receive 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) of rain through Thursday, with isolated totals of up to 12 inches (30 cm), increasing the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in mountainous regions.
Private forecaster AccuWeather noted that the storm's influence could extend to tourist hubs like Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara. Southern Baja California Sur, including the Los Cabos area, might also experience rough surf and strong gusts later in the week. AccuWeather also cautioned that tropical moisture from Mexico is anticipated to move north throughout the week, posing a threat of flash floods in the US Southwest.