Hurricane Polo Threatens Mexican Coast
Hurricane Polo, which has been downgraded to a Category 4, is expected to make landfall in the Baja California Sur region on Monday and bring heavy rainfall.
Downgraded to a Category 4, Hurricane Polo is moving away from Mexico's Pacific coast and continuing its path to make landfall in Baja California Sur on Monday.
Current Position and Speed of the Hurricane
Hurricane Polo was located approximately 531 kilometers southwest of the resort town of Cabo San Lucas on Saturday afternoon.
With maximum sustained winds reaching up to 233 kilometers per hour, the system is moving northwest at a speed of 9 miles per hour.
Change in Category Level
The U.S. National Hurricane Center announced on Saturday that the hurricane had been downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 4.
Landfall Expectations
Private forecasting firm AccuWeather stated that the storm will gradually lose strength and reach Baja California as a Category 2 level storm.
The hurricane is projected to make landfall away from major population centers, in an area where small towns such as Las Barrancas are located.
Second Landfall and Regions at Risk
Twenty-four hours after its initial landfall, the storm is expected to make a second landfall on the northwestern coast of mainland Mexico.
This situation could lead to life-threatening flash floods in the regions of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Chihuahua.
Precautions Taken and Coastal Measures
Heavy rainfall and strong winds have caused evacuations, port closures, and school suspensions throughout the week.
In San Jose del Cabo, police restricted access to the beach on Friday due to dangerous surf conditions and high waves.
Rainfall Amounts and Hazards
The hurricane is expected to drop 10 to 20 centimeters of rain across Baja California Sur, reaching up to 25 centimeters in maximum areas.
Along with this rainfall, life-threatening floods, landslides, coastal inundation, and rip currents are anticipated.