Hurricane Polo Strengthens to Category 3 as It Closes In on Baja California

Residents along Mexico's southern Baja California peninsula are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Polo, a Category 3 storm expected to make landfall on Monday, as authorities warn of storm surge, high winds and heavy rainfall that could trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides.

Polo carried maximum sustained winds of about 125 mph (205 kph) on Sunday evening and was moving north at roughly 12 mph (19 kph), positioned some 270 miles (435 kilometers) west of Cabo San Lucas at the peninsula's southern tip, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Forecasters expect the storm to cross Baja California before pushing into the Mexican mainland, where it could bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of the U.S. Southwest later in the week.

In the fishing town of Puerto San Carlos, families spent Sunday boarding up windows and doors. Rocío Sánchez, a fisher, said Civil Protection officials had urged residents of the high-risk area to evacuate, warning that earthen barriers built to hold back flooding could fail under the combined pressure of high tides, expected waves and wind.

"They said they wouldn't hold," she said.

Local official Fernando Loeza said the San Carlos Port Authority had been tasked with reinforcing an embankment that has long been a source of trouble for the community. "When it breaches, water begins spreading throughout our community," he said. Crews were seen dumping debris to form barricades, while sand berms lined the coast.

Another fisher, Julio García, described a familiar routine: securing huts and homes before seeking shelter elsewhere. Palm trees swayed in strengthening wind along an emptied beach.

Further north on Baja's Pacific coast, the small fishing community of San Juanico lies in the hurricane's projected path. The town has had full-time electricity for only a few years and still suffers frequent outages, and there are concerns that washed-out roads could cut off access to the nearest medical facility.

"Our people are concerned about this event," said Gloriely Robles Meza, a manager at a small hotel. "We haven't faced such a worrying situation in many years." She said army soldiers had arrived in San Juanico on Sunday to set up a shelter and support possible emergencies.

The Mexican navy said it had assembled personnel and humanitarian aid at the Pacific ports of Guaymas and Mazatlan, and deployed three vessels capable of delivering supplies to coastal communities cut off by the storm.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo continued to edge away from the Hawaiian Islands, remaining well southwest of Hawaii and moving away from the Big Island as the weekend ended. A high-wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory stayed in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening, with Nolo's maximum sustained winds near 105 mph (165 kph).

Forecasters warned that Nolo's outer bands could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island potentially receiving up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain. Heavy rain was also expected on the other islands. More than 120 National Guard members were activated as part of roughly 400 statewide after the governor issued an emergency proclamation, and an emergency declaration was approved to let the Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinate assistance and provide funding.

Hawaii residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which swept about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island. In Naalehu, at the island's southern point, Peggy McKibbin surveyed silt-covered roads from her four-wheeler on Sunday and pointed to lingering damage — a local bakery, fire station and hardware store destroyed.

"Everyone has been very much affected by this," McKibbin said.

The Pacific has been unusually active, with storm activity running above average during the peak of hurricane season, a pattern consistent with El Niño years, when the basin typically sees more tropical storms and hurricanes.

Separately, Tropical Storm Rachel formed well off Mexico's southwest coast on Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph), located about 300 miles (485 kilometers) south of Acapulco. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.