Hurricane Polo has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm over the Pacific Ocean, putting authorities in southwestern Mexico on alert as the powerful system moves near the country’s coastline.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Polo reached maximum sustained winds of around 160 mph (260 km/h) on September 22. At the time, the hurricane was located roughly 220 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and 360 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima.
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Despite its strength, forecasts indicated that Polo’s center would remain offshore rather than making a direct landfall. However, its outer bands could still bring intense rainfall, dangerous waves, strong winds, flooding and mudslides across parts of Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Will Hurricane Polo make landfall in Mexico?
Current forecasts indicated that its center would remain offshore, although authorities continued monitoring possible changes in its trajectory and impacts.
The storm’s rapid intensification has prompted authorities to urge coastal communities to follow official safety instructions.
