A hurricane forming off Mexico’s Pacific coast has intensified at a stunning pace. Polo went from a weak tropical depression with 22 mph (35 km/h) winds on Sunday afternoon to a Category 4 hurricane by early Tuesday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. In just 30 hours, its sustained winds jumped from 22 to 109 mph (35 to 175 km/h), while the storm’s central pressure dropped sharply — a classic sign of rapid intensification. Forecasters say Polo could still grow stronger, possibly reaching Category 5.
Mexican officials in Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco are bracing for heavy rain, high winds, storm surge, flooding and landslides. Guerrero and Michoacán could see 4 to 8 inches (100–200 mm) of rain, with isolated totals near 12 inches (300 mm). Streets in Tixtla and Chilpancingo have already flooded, damaging homes and businesses.
Authorities opened a technical school in Zihuatanejo as an emergency shelter, and both states suspended classes — in Guerrero’s case in Acapulco and the Costa Chica and Costa Grande regions, and in Michoacán through Wednesday in seven municipalities along the Sierra-Costa region.
For the full story and storm-tracking details, read the original report from Reforma.
Source: Sigue la trayectoria de 'Polo' que ya es huracán categoría 4 (Reforma).
Image: NASA Goddard Photo and Video, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).