Hurricane Polo regains Category 5 strength off Mexico as new cyclone threat brews behind
USO•Hurricane Polo regained Category 5 strength off Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 285 kph, while forecasters tracked a disturbance that could form into a tropical depression late this weekend or early next week. Polo could bring up to 10 inches of rain to parts of Baja California Sur.
1. Polo moves offshore
Polo was about 470 km southwest of Cabo Corrientes on Friday morning, moving west at 19 kph. Forecasters said it could approach Baja California Sur early next week as a major hurricane, though projections show it passing north of Los Cabos.
2. Damage and hazards
The storm has brought rough surf, heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Mexico’s Pacific coast, forcing evacuations, port closures and school cancellations earlier this week. In El Paraiso, waves swept stones into streets and damaged beachfront properties; a town commissioner said there were no deaths but considerable material damage. Rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated totals up to 10 inches, could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
3. Another system possible
Forecasters said a tropical depression could form late this weekend or early next week in Polo’s wake. Swells are expected to affect southwestern Mexico for the next couple of days and spread north along west-central Mexico and the Baja California peninsula through the weekend.
