Mexico Shuts Pacific Ports as Hurricane Polo Threatens Coast
Mexico closed ports in Acapulco and Zihuatanejo and restricted smaller vessels elsewhere as Hurricane Polo churned off the southwestern coast.
Mexico shut several Pacific ports to navigation on Wednesday as Hurricane Polo, a powerful Category 4 storm, tracked slowly northwest off the country's southwestern coast, threatening heavy rain, flooding and hazardous sea conditions.
The Navy said ports were closed to all vessels in the tourist destinations of Acapulco and Zihuatanejo. Smaller craft were barred from ports including Manzanillo, Lazaro Cardenas and Puerto Escondido, as authorities braced for rough seas, strong winds and reduced visibility.
Polo was carrying maximum sustained winds near 150 mph (240 kph), with higher gusts, after earlier reaching Category 5 strength. The core of the storm is expected to approach the coast of southwestern Mexico over the next day or two, though it is forecast to remain offshore.
The hurricane centre warned that outer rainbands could bring 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) of rain to Guerrero state through Thursday, with 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) possible in the coastal states of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco. The downpour is expected to produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides in Guerrero, particularly in mountainous areas.
Intensity fluctuations are likely, but Polo is expected to remain a very powerful major hurricane over the coming days, forecasters said.
Command posts are active in Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco and Guerrero, the Security Ministry said, coordinating risk assessment inspections, condition evaluations, preparation of temporary shelters and, if conditions require it, preventive evacuations.