Hurricane Polo Nears Baja California As Nolo Strengthens Near Hawaii

Hurricane Polo was closing in on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula on Monday, threatening life-threatening winds, flash floods, storm surge and mudslides, while Hurricane Nolo strengthened rapidly as it moved away from Hawaii but continued to pose a serious rainfall and flooding risk.

Polo was a Category 3 hurricane early Monday, with maximum sustained winds of about 115 mph (185 kph), according to the US National Hurricane Center. The storm was around 125 miles (200 km) southwest of Cabo San Lazaro and was moving north-northeast, with conditions expected to worsen across Baja California Sur during the day.

Forecasters expected Polo to make landfall in Baja California Sur later Monday while still near major hurricane strength, before crossing the peninsula and reaching mainland Mexico. Parts of Baja California Sur could receive 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of rain, while portions of Sonora could also see several inches, increasing the risk of dangerous flooding and mudslides.

Residents were already preparing. In Puerto San Carlos, a fishing community of about 5,700 people, residents boarded up homes while workers strengthened earth barriers. Authorities warned that roughly 90% of the town was vulnerable to flooding, with some families considering evacuation to shelters in Ciudad Constitucion.

Mexican authorities also positioned personnel, humanitarian supplies and navy vessels to assist communities that could become isolated by damaged roads. In San Juanico, soldiers arrived to prepare a shelter as residents worried that flooding could cut access to medical facilities.

Meanwhile, Nolo was moving west-northwest well southwest of Hawaii. The storm had strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane with winds near 155 mph (250 kph) and could briefly reach Category 5 strength before weakening.

Despite moving away, Nolo's outer bands could dump up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rain on parts of the Big Island, while high surf, strong winds, flooding and mudslides remained concerns. Several state parks were closed, and more than 120 National Guard members had been activated as Hawaii continued recovering from Hurricane Lala.

The Pacific remained unusually active, with Tropical Storm Rachel also strengthening off southwestern Mexico. A tropical storm watch was issued from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula, while forecasters expected Rachel to strengthen further as it moved west-northwest offshore.