Category 5 Hurricane Polo is 'one of the strongest storms ever'
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Hurricane Polo has intensified into a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 165 mph, making it one of the most powerful Pacific hurricanes in decades, expected to stay offshore Mexico's southwestern coast.
- The storm poses risks of hurricane-force winds up to 40 miles from its center, with heavy rain potentially causing flash flooding and mudslides in Guerrero, Michoacán, and nearby states.
- Mexican authorities have suspended classes, closed ports, and issued warnings to residents and fishermen, while local businesses along the coast are bracing for damage from strong waves.
- Scientists attribute Polo's rapid intensification to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has warmed Pacific waters and created favorable conditions for hurricane development.
- Polo is the third Category 5 hurricane in the Pacific this season, contrasting with the Atlantic, which has yet to see any hurricanes this year due to El Niño's suppressive effects.
