Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico’s coast

Hurricane Polo, now a downgraded Category 4 storm, is set to cause dangerous conditions along Mexico's Pacific coast, forecasters have warned. The storm, which moved away from the country's shoreline on Saturday, was about 531 kilometers southwest of the popular resort town of Cabo San Lucas, according to the US National Hurricane Center. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 233 kilometers per hour and moving northwest at 14 kilometers per hour.

AccuWeather predicts the hurricane will weaken further and make landfall in Baja California Sur as a Category 2 storm. While the initial impact is expected to avoid densely populated areas, smaller towns like Las Barrancas could still face challenges. A second landfall along the mainland's northwestern coast is anticipated 24 hours after the first, potentially leading to flash flooding in Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Chihuahua.

The hurricane's heavy rain and strong winds have already prompted evacuations, port closures, and school cancellations in the region. In San Jose del Cabo, police restricted beach access due to the storm's powerful surf. The National Hurricane Center warns of potential hurricane conditions as early as Monday afternoon from Punta Eugenia to Santa Fe in Baja California.

Polo is expected to bring 10-20 centimeters of rain, with the highest accumulation reaching 10 inches, which could result in severe flooding and mudslides. The storm also poses the risk of life-threatening surf, rip currents, and coastal flooding.