Hurricane Polo Threatens Deadly Landslides Along Mexico Coast

Hurricane Polo now threatens heavy rainfall and deadly landslides along Mexico's Pacific shoreline. The US National Hurricane Center issued this stark warning as dangerous floods loom.

Strong waves swept across the coast early Thursday morning while Tropical Storm Nolo moved toward Hawaii with the threat of catastrophic flooding. At 6:00 AM, the hurricane swirled roughly 130 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo in Mexico. It drifted northwest at seven miles per hour before turning west-northwest later that day to stay further out at sea.

Meteorologists expect Polo to maintain Category 5 strength for several days along the Mexican coast. The storm's eye and fiercest winds will likely remain over water, yet heavy rains could still trigger life-threatening flooding and landslides inland. This grim forecast comes directly from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Meanwhile, Hawaii faces its own severe weather pattern as Tropical Storm Nolo approaches the islands on Friday or Saturday. The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane watch for Hawaii County while local emergency teams prepare for impact. John Bravender, a warning coordination meteorologist at the weather service, held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to note that the tropical storm might evolve into a major hurricane.

Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda sent a video message urging residents to begin preparations immediately. He told citizens to build emergency kits containing food, water, and medications while also trimming vegetation and clearing drains. "This is a very serious situation," he stated plainly. "We do believe that the rain is going to come. It's coming already."

Government officials are shutting down public schools and state offices across Hawaii's Big Island for Thursday and Friday. Maui County will close its facilities on Friday ahead of expected heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding.