Mexicans brace for Hurricane Polo

Southwestern Mexico braced for coastal flooding and mudslides yesterday after Polo, a powerful Pacific cyclone, became a major hurricane.

Forecasters also warned that Hawaii could face another onslaught of harsh weather later in the week. Hurricane Polo, an “extremely dangerous” storm, is expected to skirt Mexico’s Guerrero state, submerging coastal areas with four to six inches (10 to 15 centimetres) of rain today, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Guerrero has been repeatedly pummelled by hurricanes in recent years.

Hurricane Polo was not expected to make landfall, according to meteorologists and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Tropical storm conditions including torrential rain and extraordinary wind were also expected along the Pacific coast of Michoacan and Colima states. Rain and strong winds began to pummel the coastline yesterday, with waves crashing onto the normally pristine beaches.