Hurricane Polo made landfall along the northern Pacific coast of Mexico, bringing destructive weather conditions to the state of Baja California Sur. The storm made its initial landfall just south of Las Barrancas with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. Local authorities had encouraged residents in threatened areas to seek shelter, with some facilities such as schools being converted into temporary evacuation centers for those in the storm’s path.
According to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center, Polo was expected to continue moving northeast across Baja California Sur before progressing inland over southern Sonora. While the storm was anticipated to weaken as it crossed the Baja California peninsula, meteorologists predicted it would retain hurricane-strength winds upon making a second landfall on mainland Mexico. Rainfall forecasts indicated precipitation levels between 6 and 12 inches in parts of Baja California Sur, with particular concern raised about potential life-threatening flooding and mudslides in areas with steep terrain.
Critical warnings were issued regarding coastal hazards, with the National Hurricane Center noting that significant storm surge was likely to produce notable flooding in areas experiencing onshore winds. Large and destructive waves were expected to accompany the surge near coastal regions. Prior to landfall, power outages were reported across portions of Baja California Sur, and some flooding had already affected fishing communities such as Puerto San Carlos, where residents faced evacuation orders.
Meteorologists attributed the storm’s intensity to extremely warm ocean waters in the region, linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has contributed to increased hurricane activity in Pacific waters during the current season. Following the storm, dangerous surf conditions and rip currents were forecast to persist along portions of northwestern Mexico and the Baja California coast for approximately one day.
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