Hurricane Polo strengthens to Category 5 off Mexico’s Pacific coast

Hurricane Polo has intensified to a Category 5 storm off the Pacific coast of southwestern Mexico. According to US forecasters, the storm has sustained winds of about 257 km/h, although the US National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 270 km/h. The storm is located approximately 200 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.

The storm is considered "extremely dangerous" and is forecast to bring heavy rain to the region. Authorities have suspended classes in the states of Guerrero and Michoacán, and schools will remain closed through Wednesday. The Navy has also restricted navigation in several ports.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 55 km from the center, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 km. The storm is moving slowly north at 2 mph and is expected to continue moving west-northwest, away from land by Wednesday night. Additional strengthening is possible, with fluctuations likely throughout Wednesday, and is expected to dump up to 6 inches of rain across coastal portions.

Brief written by urgent.news from Ajel English, CBS News, Mexico News Daily, Qatar Tribune, The Guardian — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.