Polo makes landfall in Mexico as a category 3 hurricane

Hurricane Polo struck Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Tuesday, causing power outages, flooding, and life-threatening winds as it made landfall just south of Las Barrancas, a small fishing village. The Category 3 storm, fueled by the El Niño weather phenomenon, had sustained winds of up to 175 kilometers per hour. Strong winds whipped up waves along the coast, breaching several sections of a sand barrier and causing water to pour into the streets of Puerto San Carlos, a fishing port of nearly 6,000 people.

Authorities ordered residents to take shelter, and Mexican officials warned of the potential for very severe damage from storm surges and heavy rains. Many homes and businesses were unprepared, with only a handful of homes boarded up or sandbagged against flooding. The military deployed nearly 7,000 troops in the state, classes were suspended, and public servants were ordered to work from home where possible.

Meteorologists are also monitoring another tropical storm, Rachel, expected to strengthen into a hurricane midweek and run parallel to the coast.