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Hurricane Polo Rapidly Intensifies Toward Category 5, Threatens Mexico

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Hurricane Polo is rapidly intensifying toward Category 5 with maximum sustained winds near 150 mph.
The storm lies about 215 miles south of Zihuatanejo and 345 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo.
A tropical storm watch covers the coast from south of Manzanillo to Tecpan de Galeana.
Forecasters expect 100-200 mm rain, locally up to 300 mm, and deadly floods and mudslides in Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco.

History

Historical Context

In October 2015 Hurricane Patricia struck Mexico’s Pacific coast as a Category 5 cyclone, the strongest tropical cyclone on record, causing at least $462.8 million in damage. Its rapid intensification and limited casualties underscored evacuation gaps, prompting President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration to speed up plans as Hurricane Polo now threatens the same Guerrero coastline.

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Story summary

Hurricane Polo is rapidly intensifying toward Category 5 with maximum sustained winds near 150 mph.
The storm lies about 215 miles south of Zihuatanejo and 345 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo.
A tropical storm watch covers the coast from south of Manzanillo to Tecpan de Galeana.
Forecasters expect 100-200 mm rain, locally up to 300 mm, and deadly floods and mudslides in Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco.

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