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Hurricane Tracker Shows Polo Making Landfall on Mexico Pacific Coast With 110 mph Winds
The hurricane tracker shows Hurricane Polo making landfall as a Category 2 storm on Mexico’s Baja California Sur coast, bringing life-threatening winds, heavy rain, and flooding risks while its remnants are expected to fuel excessive rainfall and flash flooding across parts of the southwestern United States.
Hurricane Polo Makes Landfall in Baja California Sur
Hurricane Polo made landfall south of Las Barrancas in Baja California Sur with sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and gusts up to 125 mph (200 km/h), producing waves 7 to 9 meters high. [4] Mexican officials said Polo moved ashore just south of the surfing and fishing village of Las Barrancas bringing maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). [4] Mexico's National Weather Service said it had brought sustained winds of 150 to 170 km/h with gusts of 180 to 200 km/h and waves 7 to 9 meters high. [3] The storm was expected to dump 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of rain across Baja California Sur, with a risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, according to the US National Hurricane Center. [3] Meteorologists said Polo could dump between 6 and 12 inches (150-300mm) of rain across parts of Baja California Sur, which they warned could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. [4] The NHC said a storm surge was also expected to produce significant coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds. [4] Even before Polo made landfall, residents said there were power cuts in Baja California Sur. [4] US media reported some flooding in the fishing town of Puerto San Carlos and the Associated Press said waves crested sea barriers in the area, where many residents had been evacuated due to the threat. [4] Authorities expected life-threatening hurricane conditions to continue across Baja California Sur for several hours. [3]
Forecast Path and Second Landfall in Sonora
Polo is expected to weaken but remain at hurricane strength for a second landfall over southern Sonora in mainland Mexico. [4] Polo is moving northeast and on the forecast track, its core is predicted to continue passing over Baja California Sur before moving inland over the southern part of the Mexican state of Sonora later on Tuesday. [4] Polo is still expected to be a hurricane at its second landfall in mainland Mexico, after crossing the Gulf of California. [3] The US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that while Polo was expected to weaken as it moved over the Baja California peninsula, it was forecast to still be at hurricane strength when it makes its second landfall in mainland Mexico. [4] Weather conditions were expected to deteriorate in the south of the mainland state of Sonora. [3] Dangerous surf and rip currents were likely to continue along portions of the north-western coast of Mexico and Baja California for the next day or so. [4]
Hurricane Polo makes landfall on Mexico’s Baja California Sur Pacific coast as a Category 2 storm. — Source: myjoyonline
Preparations and Local Response in Mexico
Both Mexican authorities and the NHC urged residents to remain safe indoors through the morning, either at their homes or in temporary shelters opened up in high-risk areas. [3] Residents in threatened areas have been encouraged to seek shelter. [4] Shopkeeper María Palomino, 57, spent the night at a high school which has been turned into a temporary shelter. [4] "If something happens, it's better to come to the shelter," she told AFP news agency. [4] A whale-watching and fishing guide who was boarding up the facade of his home told AFP the storm was "coming with full force". [4] Residents of the towns in Polo's path packed supermarkets over the weekend to buy essential products while business owners boarded up doors and windows in anticipation of the storm. [3] In Cabo San Lucas, famous for its natural rock arch, authorities had restricted access to the beaches on Monday. [4] Polo hit land as a category 2 hurricane south of Las Barrancas, halfway down the state's west coast, a zone far less populated than the Los Cabos resort corridor at the southern tip of the peninsula. [3] The south of the peninsula is popular with tourists and acts as a base for surfers, sport fishers, and whale watchers. [4]
Tropical Moisture Triggers Flash Flooding in the US Southwest
Remnants of Polo, combined with another system, are sending tropical moisture northward, causing flash flooding in Arizona and New Mexico and risking up to 6-7 inches of rain in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah through Thursday. [4] As Polo moves north-east, it is expected to also affect the US, sending a surge of tropical moisture northwards for the next few days leading to excessive rainfall and flash flooding. [4] Rain has already been falling across Arizona and California but the remains of Polo and another hurricane - named Odalys - will become absorbed into that weather system, boosting the amount of rainfall. [4] These fronts will push eastwards across the southern plains. [4] Some spots could see as much as 6 or 7 inches of rainfall by Thursday. [4] States affected include Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah into Tuesday. [4] Separate flash flood warnings remain in effect for portions of Grant, Luna, and Sierra counties in New Mexico and Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona due to ongoing heavy thunderstorms. [1] [2] The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has issued a Flash Flood Warning for South Central Sierra County in south central New Mexico, Southeastern Grant County in southwestern New Mexico, and Northeastern Luna County in southwestern New Mexico until 1230 PM MDT. [1] At 937 AM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible. [1] The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a Flash Flood Warning for North Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona and Pinal County in southeastern Arizona until 230 PM MST. [2] At 832 AM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. [2] Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. [2]
What to watch next: The storm is forecast to dump 6 to 12 inches of rain across Baja California Sur while its remnants continue driving flash flood risks northward.
