Hurricane Polo makes landfall in Baja California with forecast of 'life-threatening' winds

PUERTO SAN CARLOS, Mexico — Hurricane Polo made landfall early Tuesday in the Mexican state of Baja California with flash flooding and winds described by forecasters as "life-threatening."

The Category 2 hurricane struck land just south of Las Barrancas, Mexico, about 80 miles north of Cabo San Lazaro and about 70 miles south of Mulege with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph while moving northeast at 13 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

By 6 a.m. MDT, Polo was moving toward the northeast near 10 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph, the center said.

The hurricane center said Polo was crossing the Gulf of California before moving inland and was expected to produce 6-12 inches of rain across parts of Baja California Sur.

Forecasters had predicted Polo would hit the Mexican mainland with life-threatening winds and flash floods expected. It could bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of the Southwest later in the week.

Meanwhile, the hurricane center reported Tropical Storm Rachel was moving parallel to Mexico's coast early Tuesday. The storm was about 265 miles southwest of Lazaro Cardenos and about 370 miles south of Cabo Corrientes with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph while moving west-northwest at 13 mph.

Hurricane Nolo was still a Category 3 hurricane on Tuesday, but was edging away from Hawaii.

Baja California peninsula was preparing for Polo

The government of the northern Mexican state of Sonora on Monday night announced it would suspend all "nonessential" activities, including school, sports and nonessential work in the state capital and more than a dozen municipalities.

The Mexican navy said it had personnel ready across the northern Pacific coast and deployed three vessels that could ship aid to coastal communities isolated by Polo. Local authorities along the Baja California Peninsula said they had shelters ready, while travel will be suspended in the area and ports across the region will be closed.

Pacific storm activity greater than normal this season

Pacific storm activity has been above average during what is already the peak of hurricane season, according to National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec. He said that pattern is consistent with El Niño years, when the Pacific often sees more tropical storms and hurricanes.

The impact was expected to stretch into the Southwest, with Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Texas receiving inches of rain. Arid canyons and rocky expanses with little vegetation are conducive to flash flooding and the tropical weather adds more risk, said Andrew Mangham, senior service hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"We're getting caught up here in a very, very short time," Mangham said. "And that's not really what we want. We want nice rains, you know, all summer long."

Floods and mudslides remain a risk in Hawaii

Hurricane Nolo on Tuesday had moved to about 405 miles west of Honolulu. The storm was about 300 miles south-southeast of French Frigate Shoals with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph moving north or 360 degrees at 10 mph.

Nolo drenched communities in south and southeastern parts of Hawaii's Big Island over the weekend. Hawaii National Guard members rescued 19 people from flooding over the weekend, the National Guard said in a post on Facebook.

The hurricane was approaching Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a marine conservation area, according to the hurricane center, which said the storm could bring dangerous conditions to the area starting Tuesday.

Contributing: Eduardo Verdugo, Julie Walker, Mead Gruver, Eugene Garcia and Gregory Bull

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