A powerful hurricane is taking aim at Mexico's Baja California peninsula while a second storm slowly loosens its grip on Hawaii, forecasters said Sunday, setting up a dangerous week of weather on both sides of the Pacific.
Hurricane Polo, now a major Category 3 storm, was expected to make landfall on the Baja California peninsula on Monday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. As of Sunday evening, Polo packed maximum sustained winds of about 125 mph (205 kph), making it a formidable system capable of causing widespread destruction along the coast.
The storm was centered roughly 270 miles (435 kilometers) west of Cabo San Lucas, the resort city at the southern tip of the peninsula, and was moving north at about 12 mph (19 kph). Forecasters warned that the slow forward speed could allow Polo to dump enormous amounts of rain over a broad area, heightening the risk of dangerous flooding and mudslides.
Residents across Baja California spent the weekend preparing for the storm's arrival. Heavy rainfall was expected to begin affecting the peninsula overnight Sunday and continue into Monday, with forecasters describing the potential for life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides in mountainous terrain. Coastal communities also faced the threat of storm surge and damaging winds as Polo approached.
The hurricane center said Polo is expected to cross the peninsula and then move over the Mexican mainland, where it could bring additional heavy rain and flooding. That trajectory raises concerns for communities already vulnerable to saturated ground and overflowing rivers.
Beyond Mexico, forecasters said moisture from Polo could reach parts of the U.S. Southwest later in the week, potentially bringing heavy rain and flooding to portions of the region. The Southwest has experienced significant rainfall events in recent years, and additional moisture from a tropical system can quickly overwhelm drainage systems in arid areas.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles to the west, Hawaii was beginning to emerge from its encounter with Hurricane Nolo. The storm, which had threatened the islands with flooding rains, was well southwest of Hawaii on Sunday and was moving away from the Big Island as the weekend came to a close.
Nolo's maximum sustained winds had increased to near 105 mph (165 kph), but the storm's distance from land meant the most severe impacts were expected to remain offshore. Still, a high-wind warning, a wind advisory and a high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the Big Island through Sunday evening, a reminder that dangerous conditions can persist even as a storm departs.
The storm had already left its mark on the island. Rainwater from Nolo flooded a section of the Mamalahoa highway near Naalehu, prompting local emergency responders to search for residents who might need help. Fire Captain Lui Sales of the Hawaii Fire Department was among those checking on residents as the floodwaters covered the roadway.
Nolo's path had been unusual. The storm was described as a zig-zagging system that repeatedly shifted its track, keeping forecasters and residents guessing about where the worst impacts would occur. In the end, Nolo avoided making landfall as it strengthened, but it still delivered dangerous flooding rains to parts of the island chain.
The pairing of two simultaneous major storms — one threatening Mexico and the other grazing Hawaii — illustrates how active the Pacific hurricane season can become. While Polo and Nolo are separate systems, their combined presence underscores the need for preparedness across a vast stretch of ocean.
For Baja California, the next 24 hours will be critical. Emergency officials are urging residents in low-lying areas and near steep terrain to remain alert for rapidly rising water and to be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen. Tourists in Cabo San Lucas and other coastal destinations have been advised to monitor local warnings and avoid shoreline areas as the storm approaches.
Meteorologists note that Category 3 hurricanes can cause devastating damage, including structural damage to buildings, uprooted trees and prolonged power outages. The combination of strong winds, storm surge and heavy rain makes Polo a particularly dangerous system for a peninsula known for its desert landscapes and tourism-dependent coastal communities.
In Hawaii, authorities will continue to assess damage from Nolo in the coming days, particularly along the southern portions of the Big Island where flooding was reported. Road crews may need to clear debris and repair sections of highway affected by high water before normal travel can resume.
As Polo moves north and then inland, its remnants could eventually influence weather patterns far from Mexico, potentially adding moisture to an already active storm track across the southwestern United States. Forecasters say residents there should stay informed as the week progresses.
For now, the focus remains on Baja California, where the arrival of a major hurricane is only hours away. Officials are urging calm but caution, stressing that preparation and attention to official warnings remain the best defenses against a storm of Polo's strength.
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