The southwestern United States is bracing for the effects of Hurricane Polo as the storm makes its way across Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center’s report on Tuesday.
Over 30 million residents from Arizona to Iowa are under the threat of flash floods on Tuesday. Southern New Mexico has already experienced significant rainfall, resulting in flooded roads that have stranded motorists until the waters recede.
As Hurricane Polo progresses, the heavy rain is expected to persist in the region.
The storm is currently moving northwest at approximately 10 miles per hour through Baja California Sur, Mexico. This trajectory is anticipated to continue into Tuesday morning, with the storm likely to gain speed, the NHC indicated.
Later on Tuesday morning, the storm’s core is forecasted to cross the Gulf of California and make a second landfall in Sonora, Mexico.
Following this, the storm is projected to enter the southwestern United States, approaching El Paso by Wednesday morning.
When it reaches El Paso, Hurricane Polo is expected to have sustained winds around 35 miles per hour and will likely continue to weaken as it traverses the Southwest.
Flash flood watches are currently in effect from Phoenix, Arizona, to Des Moines, Iowa, with over 14 million individuals at risk of significant flooding. Some locations may experience rainfall rates of up to two inches per hour.
The National Weather Service Prediction Center has warned of a “substantial flash flood threat” extending from the Four Corners Region to the Central Plains.
Meteorologist Rob Marciano from CBS News has highlighted particular concern for Albuquerque, New Mexico, where rainfall may reach saturation levels, with the city expecting about two inches of rain.
In southern Colorado and along the I-35 corridor, rainfall is expected to continue into Wednesday. Parts of Texas, including Dallas, may also experience rain through Thursday, with some areas potentially receiving over seven inches of precipitation.
Hurricane Polo has shown remarkable strength, fluctuating between Category 4 and Category 5. The storm underwent extreme rapid intensification, wherein wind speeds increased by more than 58 mph within a 24-hour period.
Notably, Polo’s wind speeds surged from 45 mph to 150 mph between September 21 and September 22, a change the NHC described as “truly remarkable.”
Over the weekend, the storm reached maximum sustained winds of 180 mph, matching Hurricane Rick from 2009 as the third-strongest hurricane recorded in the region. Its central pressure ranked it as the second-strongest hurricane on record in the Eastern Pacific, surpassed only by Hurricane Patricia in 2015.
In addition, Hurricane Nolo has recently passed near Hawaii’s Big Island, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the area over the weekend.
Factors such as warmer ocean temperatures, moist air, and reduced wind shear have contributed to the storm’s formation. The presence of unusually strong El Niño conditions has also resulted in heightened tropical cyclone activity.
