Residents of Mexico’s Baja California Sur state installed shingles on homes and workers moved dirt and debris to shore up embankments as Hurricane Polo made landfall on the peninsula on Monday, threatening strong winds, flooding and mudslides. Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo could still bring heavy rain to parts of Hawaii even as the storm approaches the state.
In Puerto San Carlos, a fishing town with a population of about 5,700 people, some fear that the high waves and strong waves from Polo will break through the barriers and send seawater into the community. Some families plan to head to shelters in Ciudad Constitución, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) away, while dozens of people have been evacuated elsewhere in the state.
“Civil Protection asked us here in San Carlos to evacuate because this is a very dangerous area,” said Rocio Sanchez, a fisherman. “With the current tides and the expected waves and winds, the berms they built (to prevent floods) could collapse.”
Polo heads to the Baja California peninsula
The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said Polo was a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) on Monday morning. Forecasters said the hurricane would hit the Mexican mainland after heavy rain fell on the state of Baja California Sur, potentially causing life-threatening floods and mudslides. It could bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of the southwestern United States later in the week.
“Polo is expected to approach major hurricane strength when it reaches Baja California Sur later today, and is expected to become a hurricane when it reaches mainland Mexico late tonight or early Tuesday morning,” the center said.
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As swirling clouds and strong winds hung over the area, Laura Velasquez, national coordinator for Mexico’s Civil Protection Agency, said Polo would make landfall later in the afternoon.
At a news conference Monday morning, she urged residents to stay off the streets and seek shelter if their homes were at risk. She added that travel will be suspended in the area where the hurricane is expected to make landfall, and ports will be closed throughout the region.
Meanwhile, Nolo was southwest of Hawaii and moving away from the Big Island as the weekend came to a close, but a wind and high surf warning remained in effect for parts of the island through Monday morning. Nolo’s maximum wind speed increased to nearly 155 mph (249 km/h).
It’s been a busy season for Pacific storms
Storm activity in the Pacific Ocean was above average during the height of hurricane season, according to National Weather Service Chief Meteorologist Bob Oravec. This pattern is consistent with El Niño years, when the Pacific Ocean often sees more tropical storms and hurricanes, he said.
As Polo approached Mexico, the Mexican Navy said it had gathered personnel and humanitarian aid in the ports of Guaymas and Mazatlán on the Pacific coast, deploying three ships that could ship aid to coastal communities isolated by the storm.
One town in the hurricane’s expected path is San Juanico, a small fishing community on the Pacific coast of Baja. The city has only had full-time electricity for a few years, and still suffers from frequent outages. There are concerns that washed-out roads may prevent access to medical facilities.
“Our employees are concerned about this event,” said Glorylee Robles Meza, a small hotel manager. “We have not faced such a worrying situation for many years.”
Robles Meza said on Sunday that army soldiers arrived in San Juanico to prepare a shelter and provide support for possible emergencies.
Also on Sunday, Tropical Storm Rachel formed off the southwestern coast of Mexico. Rachel has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (82 kph) and is located about 230 miles (370 kilometers) southwest of Acapulco, the hurricane center said. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
In Hawaii, floods and mudslides remain a danger
Forecasters said the outer Nolo Ranges could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rain possible in parts of the Big Island. Heavy rains are also expected on other islands.
More than 120 National Guard members were activated, part of about 400 statewide after the governor issued an emergency declaration. President Donald Trump recently approved an emergency declaration, which allowed FEMA to coordinate aid and provide funding support.
Hawaii residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which dumped heavy rains and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.
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