Hurricane Polo is ‘one of the strongest storms ever’ and is churning off Mexico’s Pacific coast

A powerful Category 5 hurricane, named Polo, has rapidly intensified off Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening the region with heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous surf. The storm reached maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a record-low central pressure of 892 millibars, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters predict the hurricane will travel along the western Mexican coast but remain offshore, potentially causing flooding and landslides that could result in fatalities. Polo made a sharp turn to the west-northwest or northwest by late Tuesday, moving away from its earlier eastward path.

The storm's explosive intensification can be attributed to a combination of warm ocean water, light wind shear, and abundant moisture, which allowed its circulation to become more organized. While El Niño, a climate pattern currently strengthening in the eastern equatorial Pacific, may have played a role, it is not the sole factor responsible for Polo's rapid intensification.