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Hurricane Polo's remnants bringing more rain to flood-struck U.S. Southwest
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- Former Hurricane Polo weakened over northwestern Mexico but caused heavy rains and flooding across the U.S. Southwest, leading to evacuations in small New Mexico towns due to concerns about a dam potentially failing.
- Floodwaters impacted Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, prompting water rescues and road closures, with desert rivers surging and flash flooding threatening urban and rural areas.
- The saturated ground from previous storms increased runoff and flooding risks, with flood watches extending into parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa through at least Thursday.
- Baja California Sur experienced strong winds and flooding from Polo but residents reported being relatively lucky despite damage and temporary sheltering; meanwhile, Tropical Storm Rachel and Hurricane Nolo remain active in the Pacific.
- The above-average Pacific storm activity this year aligns with El Niño conditions, contributing to the heightened tropical weather and flooding risks in affected regions.
