Hurricane Polo lashes Mexico with life-threatening flooding as Tropical Storm Rachel churns in the Pacific
Moisture from Hurricane Polo is fueling life-threatening flooding across the southwestern U.S.
Hurricane Polo blasts across Mexico; Polo's moisture fueling dangerous flood threat across US Southwest
Hurricane Polo made landfall as a Category 2 storm on Baja California Sur, Mexico, late Monday. Polo is bringing damaging wind gusts and life-threatening flash flooding to the region, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm is forecast to make a second landfall in mainland Mexico later Tuesday after tracking over the Gulf of California. In addition, moisture from Hurricane Polo is fueling life-threatening flooding across the southwestern U.S.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Hurricane Polo made landfall as a Category 2 storm on Baja California Sur, Mexico, late Monday.
- Polo's moisture and moisture from Tropical Storm Rachel are expected to fuel a weeklong flood threat 30 U.S. states.
- Rachel became the 20th named storm in the Central and Eastern Pacific this season as a strengthening El Niño supercharges the basins.
Hurricane Polo made landfall as a Category 2 storm on Baja California Sur, Mexico, late Monday. Polo is bringing damaging wind gusts and life-threatening flash flooding to the region, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm made a second landfall in mainland Mexico later Tuesday after tracking over the Gulf of California.
In addition, moisture from Hurricane Polo is fueling life-threatening flooding across the southwestern U.S.,
A man clears debris from fallen trees following the arrival of Hurricane Polo in the flooded town of Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, on September 29, 2026. Hurricane Polo made landfall on Mexico's Baja California peninsula on September 29, cutting power and causing flooding as the sea breached coastal defenses.
((Photo by Carl de Souza / AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
Hurricane Polo peaked as a monster Category 5 storm last week, with one of the lowest central pressures ever recorded in the Eastern Pacific.
CALIFORNIA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AS POTENTIALLY HISTORIC SUPER EL NIÑO LOOMS
Hurricane landfalls on Baja California are quite rare. The last was Norma in October 2023.
This aerial view shows flooded streets following the arrival of Hurricane Polo in the town of Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, on September 29, 2026. Hurricane Polo made landfall on Mexico's Baja California peninsula on September 29, cutting power and causing flooding as the sea breached coastal defenses.
((Photo by Carl de Souza / AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
The FOX Forecast Center expects the storm to drop up to 10 inches of rain across parts of Mexico, which could result in life-threatening flooding and mudslides in especially steep areas.
HURRICANE POLO EXPLODES INTO ONE OF PACIFIC’S STRONGEST HURRICANES EVER
There was some uncertainty regarding exactly how strong Polo was at landfall on Baja California.
"…Given all the data we have received, it is likely that Polo was a category 2 hurricane at the time of landfall with maximum winds in the 90-95 kt range," the NHC said early Tuesday.
(FOX Weather)
Polo is expected to weaken into remnants which will move over New Mexico Tuesday evening, and flash flood advisories are in effect across New Mexico and Arizona.
Polo’s remnants are forecast to bring wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph to parts of the Southwest, along with intense rainfall. Widespread power outages are possible.
Since 1950, only nine remnant tropical storms or hurricanes have survived the trip over mountains and deserts to affect southern Arizona or New Mexico.
Tropical Storm Rachel lurks off the coast of Mexico
Polo is not the only tropical system that will fuel flooding across the U.S. A large dip in the jet stream will pull moisture from Tropical Storm Rachel, churning off the coast of southern Mexico later this week, bringing heavy rain to the Central U.S.
(FOX Weather)
Rachel is currently about 265 miles southwest of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, with sustained winds of 65 mph, according to the NHC.
Rachel is expected to become a hurricane later Tuesday as it parallels the Mexican coast through the week.
Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings are in effect across parts of the southwestern Mexican coast.
(FOX Weather)
"The atmosphere around Rachel is expected to be nearly pristine for intensification. However, Rachel's intensity may be limited slightly by the fact that it will track over cooler waters churned up by Hurricane Polo," said the FOX Forecast Center.
Rachel became the 20th named storm in the Central and Eastern Pacific this season as a strengthening El Niño supercharges the basins.
Tropical Depression Nineteen-E forms in open Pacific
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Nineteen-E formed in the open Pacific Tuesday morning but is expected to be short lived.
(FOX Weather)
"The depression could become a tropical storm later today before weakening on Wednesday," the NHC said Tuesday. "The system is likely to degenerate into a post-tropical cyclone by late Thursday."
If Nineteen-E strengthens, it would be named Simon, the next name on the Eastern Pacific list.
FOX Weather is your Hurricane HQ.