Polo to Intensify Into Major Hurricane as Mexico Braces for Heavy Rain

Tropical Storm Polo is expected to strengthen rapidly over the Pacific Ocean and reach major hurricane status later this week, forecasters said Monday, as it threatens to drench parts of Mexico's coastline.

According to an advisory from the Miami-based National Hurricane Center, Polo could deliver heavy rain, rough surf and tropical-storm-force winds to sections of Mexico from late Tuesday into early Wednesday.

Meteorologists predicted rainfall of 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) across coastal areas of the Mexican states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco through Thursday, with isolated totals approaching 12 inches (30 centimeters). Flooding and mudslides were possible.

As of Monday, Polo remained a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph). It was centered about 240 miles (386 kilometers) south of Manzanillo, Mexico, and 200 miles (322 kilometers) southwest of Zihuatanejo, moving northeast at 5 mph (8 kph).

Farther west, Tropical Storm Odalys was far from land but was also expected to become a hurricane by midweek. Odalys carried maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph) on Monday and was located nearly 1,400 miles (2,253 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, tracking northwest at 13 mph (21 kph).

In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Fay was weakening, with top winds near 65 mph (105 kph). Fay was positioned 405 miles (652 kilometers) southwest of the Azores.

No Atlantic hurricanes have formed so far this year, setting a record for the longest a season has begun without one. The effects of this year's El Nino have been crushing storms before they can develop.