Remnants of Hurricane Polo Pose Flood Risk in U.S. Southwest
The remnants of Hurricane Polo, which weakened in Mexico, are impacting the U.S. Southwest, leading to floods, road closures, and evacuations due to dam concerns.
Following the dissipation of former Hurricane Polo in Mexico, the remaining rainy system caused severe flooding in the U.S. southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona, prompting evacuations in small communities due to dam safety concerns.
System Reaching the U.S. from Mexico
After striking Mexico's Baja California Sur state and moving inland, Hurricane Polo crossed the Gulf of California, turned into a tropical storm, and began affecting the U.S. Southwest as of Tuesday evening.
Dam Concerns and Evacuations in New Mexico
The potential failure of a dam in south-central New Mexico forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents in small communities along the Rio Grande River, including Rincon, Salem, Garfield, Hatch, and Placitas.
Rescue Operations in Arizona and Utah
Roads flooded across Arizona, prompting rescue operations for a person stranded near Phoenix and a swept-away pickup truck, while three people were airlifted to safety in Utah's Zion National Park.
Weather Expectations for Coming Days
As the tropical weather system moves northeast, vast areas remain under flood warnings, with similar precipitation risks expected to shift toward the central U.S. as the week progresses.