Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico’s Pacific coast, landfall expected Monday

September 27, 2026 11:55 AM EDT

Sandbags on Medano Beach as Hurricane Polo approaches Baja California Sur, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico September 27, 2026. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

By Emily Green

MEXICO CITY, ‌Sept 27 (Reuters) - Forecasters ​said ​Hurricane Polo, which has weakened to a Category 3 storm, is expected to make landfall on the Pacific coast of ‌Baja California Sur on Monday night, bringing sustained winds of ⁠60 to 80 mph (100 to 130 km/h) and heavy rain to the popular tourist ‌destination.

As of Sunday evening, the ‌hurricane was about 200 miles (320 km) off the Baja California coast, moving north-northwest at 12 mph (19 km/h) with sustained winds of 125 mph (200 ​km/h), according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Private forecaster AccuWeather said Polo is expected to gradually weaken before making landfall as a ⁠Category 1 hurricane, but could still topple trees and power lines and inflict structural damage.

Heavy rain, high ​surf and strong winds have already prompted evacuations, port closures and school cancellations along Mexico's Pacific coast.

Two minors died ​and their parents remain missing after ‌their home was swept downstream in the state of Jalisco on the country's Pacific coast, according to the state Civil ⁠Protection and Fire Department.

In the resort city of San Jose del Cabo, authorities restricted access to beaches as the storm churned up large waves and dangerous ⁠surf.

Polo is forecast to dump 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) of rain ​across Baja California, with maximum amounts of 12 inches (30 cm) across Baja California Sur, raising the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, before crossing the Gulf of ‌California and moving into the northern states of Sonora and Chihuahua.

The rainfall could produce "life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially ‌in areas of steep terrain," the US National Hurricane Center warned.

Mexico's Navy and ⁠Defense Ministry have deployed around ‌7,000 personnel to Baja ​California Sur and opened 169 facilities for use as temporary shelters.

(Reporting by Emily Green; Editing by Nia Williams and ‌Lincoln Feast.)



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