Off the southwestern coast of Mexico, Hurricane Polo has swelled into one of the Pacific's most formidable storms in living memory — a Category 5 cyclone whose 175 mph winds place it in the same rare company as Hurricane Patricia a decade ago. Fueled by El Niño's warm waters and favorable winds, Polo's transformation from ordinary storm to historic threat unfolded in a single day, a speed that unsettled even seasoned scientists. Though forecasters believe the storm may skirt rather than strike the coast directly, the region carries fresh wounds from Hurricane Otis in 2023, and the difference b
Hurricane Polo intensifies to Category 5, threatens Mexico's Pacific coast
Authorities suspended classes and evacuated beaches; potential for life-threatening flooding, mudslides, and deadly rip currents if storm impacts coastal areas.