Hurricane Polo Threatens Mexico, Nolo Heads to Hawaii
A powerful Category 5 storm off Mexico's coast is forecast to stay offshore, while Tropical Storm Nolo approaches Hawaii.
A powerful Category 5 storm off Mexico's coast is forecast to stay offshore, while Tropical Storm Nolo approaches Hawaii.
KEY TAKEAWAYS- Hurricane Polo has intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, sending heavy rain and strong waves across the region.
- Forecasters predict Polo will move northwest at 9 mph, taking it further out to sea before turning northwest on Saturday.
- Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Nolo formed on Wednesday, triggering a hurricane watch for Hawaii's Big Island.
- [aljazeera.
Hurricane Polo Threatens Mexico's Pacific Coast
Hurricane Polo has intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, sending heavy rain and strong waves across the region. As of early Thursday, the storm was swirling about 130 miles south-southwest of the city of Zihuatanejo, moving northwest at 7 mph, according to the Associated Press. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami warned that while the eye and strongest winds were expected to remain at sea, the heavy rains could cause life-threatening flooding and landslides.
CBS News reported that Polo's maximum sustained winds climbed as high as 180 mph at one point, making it one of the strongest storms on record in the Eastern Pacific. The storm underwent extreme rapid intensification, with winds skyrocketing from 45 mph to 150 mph in 24 hours. The Mexican government issued a tropical storm warning for a stretch of the coast from Tecpan de Galeana to Manzanillo, with a watch in effect further north.
Storm's Path and Impact on Mexico
Forecasters predict Polo will move northwest at 9 mph, taking it further out to sea before turning northwest on Saturday. CBS News noted that the storm's core was about 175 miles off the coast of Zihuatanejo, with hurricane-force winds extending 40 miles from its center. The storm was expected to bring tropical storm conditions to parts of the coastline on Thursday, with some areas receiving between 4 and 6 inches of rainfall.
The Associated Press reported that Mexican residents in Michoacan placed sandbags against strong waves generated by the hurricane. CBS News highlighted that the storm's outer rainbands were spreading across southwestern Mexico, with up to 8 inches of rain possible in certain spots. The storm remains far south of Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
Tropical Storm Nolo Approaches Hawaii
Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Nolo formed on Wednesday, triggering a hurricane watch for Hawaii's Big Island. CBS News reported that Nolo is expected to become a hurricane sometime Thursday. The US National Weather Service warned that the tropical storm could develop into a major hurricane, with Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda urging residents to start preparing for the storm.
Governor Josh Green's office announced that public schools and state and county offices across Hawaii's Big Island will close on Thursday and Friday, while Maui County will shut them on Friday. CBS News noted that the storm could bring heavy rain, winds, and flooding to the islands, with preparations already underway.
Sources and context
aljazeera.com — Hurricane Polo brings fears of heavy rain and landslides in Mexico
cbsnews.com — Hurricane Polo is a powerful Category 5 storm off Mexico. See its path.
