Hurricane Polo Becomes Category 5 Off Mexico's Pacific Coast

Hurricane Polo has rapidly intensified into one of the most powerful Pacific cyclones recorded in decades, churning off Mexico's southwestern coastline as a Category 5 storm. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center described it as "extremely dangerous," with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (265 kph).

The storm was centered about 210 miles (338 kilometers) south of Zihuatanejo and was nearly stationary over the ocean. Forecasters expected it to begin a slow but sharp turn northwest overnight, then track generally west-northwestward over the coming days.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said experts indicated the hurricane was not likely to touch land. Even so, the hurricane center warned that hurricane-force winds extend up to 40 miles (65 kilometers) from the center, with tropical storm-force winds reaching as far as 105 miles (169 kilometers).

Tropical storm conditions were expected along the Pacific coast in Guerrero, Michoacan and Colima states. Rainfall of about 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) was forecast for Guerrero and Michoacan, with smaller amounts possible for coastal parts of Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco. Heavy rain could trigger flash flooding and mudslides.

The storm has put residents along Mexico's Pacific coast on edge after several powerful cyclones in recent years. Beaches emptied and dark clouds swirled over choppy seas, while authorities suspended classes in several areas on Tuesday. Mexico's navy closed ports in Guerrero and Michoacan and urged civilians and fishermen to take precautions.

In the Michoacan city of Lazaro Cardenas, Concepcion Lopez Villegas was preparing her seaside restaurant for the worst as strong waves already lapped at the coastline. "We're worried and trying to protect our businesses," she said, adding that the small business she has built over decades could be destroyed. "And of course, we're sad because it's our heritage, our legacy that from one moment to another could be destroyed."

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a weather alert telling citizens to avoid water and beaches and to follow warnings from Mexican authorities. It cautioned that even without a direct landfall, heavy rain could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, and that hazardous ocean conditions could produce deadly rip currents and rogue waves.

Polo's rapid intensification stunned scientists and authorities. The hurricane center called it "truly remarkable" how quickly the storm gained strength in 24 hours. Philip Klotzbach, a research scientist at Colorado State University, attributed the intensification to El Nino, which has brought warmer waters and favorable wind patterns that act as fuel for hurricanes. "There are all the ingredients that hurricanes need to get really strong really fast," he said.

National Hurricane Center data shows Polo's speeds are comparable to only a few regional hurricanes in recent decades, primarily Hurricane Patricia, which reached 215 mph (346 kph) in 2015. Kristen L. Corbosiero, a professor at the University at Albany's Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, called Polo "one of the strongest storms ever" in the Pacific Basin.

Polo is the third Category 5 hurricane of the Pacific season, after Genevieve and Lowell. Category 5 is the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, meaning maximum sustained winds exceed 157 mph (253 kph). No Atlantic hurricanes have formed yet this year, setting a record for the longest start to a season without one, as El Nino conditions suppress storm development.