Hurricane Polo unleashes threatening winds as it approaches Mexico

ByVanessa Buschschlüter Latin America online editor.

Key points

• The regional administration of Baja California Sur has ordered schools to remain closed on Monday as a preventive measure.
• Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío remarked temporary shelters had been opened should residents need to be evacuated.
• Hurricane Polo is lashing the northern Pacific coast of Mexico with intense winds as it moves ashore with the threat of life-threatening flash floods.
• Meteorologists at the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) have cautioned that life-threatening winds and flash foods had begun to hit portions of the region.
• The hurricane centre remarked even after Polo dissipates, its remnants could produce robust gusty winds in southern New Mexico and western Texas.

For context, the powerful category three storm, with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph (185 km/h), is projected to produce landfall on Monday evening over the state of Baja California Sur, a region popular with tourists and home to the resort destination of Los Cabos.

Residents boarded up homes and businesses and stocked up on essentials such as drinking water and food as the storm approached.

For context, the eye of the storm is projected to move inland along the coast of Baja California Sur on Monday evening, and then move inland into southern Sonora on Tuesday morning, according to NHC.

"Conditions will deteriorate quickly", the US weather agency cautioned, urging residents to seek safe shelter.

Forecasters additionally cautioned of the intense storm surge the hurricane could unleash. It could be accompanied by sizeable and destructive waves.

Heavy rains could additionally lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

In practice, the hurricane centre remarked even after Polo dissipates, its remnants could produce robust gusty winds in southern New Mexico and western Texas.

In Cabo San Lucas, famous for its natural rock arch, authorities restricted access to the beaches. Some restaurants additionally closed in the town. It acts as a base for sport fishers and whale watchers.

Laura Velázquez, national coordinator of Mexico's Civil Protection Agency, remarked that travel will be halted in the area where the hurricane is anticipated to create landfall and ports will be closed.

Dangerous surf and rip currents are probable along portions of the northwestern coast of Mexico and Baja California for the next day or so, meteorologists stated.

For context, the regional administration of Baja California Sur has ordered schools to remain closed on Monday as a preventive measure.

For context, the federal authorities have additionally deployed thousands of members of the navy and the army along with specialised machinery. Polo has been gradually moving towards Mexico's coast line.

Meteorologists remarked it was being fuelled by extremely warm waters caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon. It has led to a more active hurricane season in Pacific waters.

For now, hurricane Polo unleashes threatening winds as it approaches Mexico remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.