Hurricane Polo could cause life-threatening flooding in Mexico's Baja California peninsula

Residents of Mexicos Baja California Sur state boarded up homes and workers hauled dirt and rubble to shore up embankments as Hurricane Polo bore down on the peninsula Monday, threatening high winds, floods and mudslides. Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo could still bring torrential rain to parts of Hawaii even as the storm edged away from the state.In Puerto San Carlos, a fishing town of about 5,700 people, some feared high tides and pounding waves from Polo could breach barriers and send seawater into the community. Some families planned to head to shelters in Ciudad Constitucion, about 37 miles away, while dozens of people elsewhere in the state were evacuated.Civil Protection told those of us here in San Carlos to evacuate because this is a high-risk area.

With the current tides, the expected waves and the wind, the earthen barriers they built (to prevent flooding) could give way, Roco Snchez, a fisherwoman, said.Polo barreling toward Baja California peninsulaPolo was a Category 3 storm with top sustained winds of 115 mph Monday morning, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Forecasters said it would hit the Mexican mainland after lashing Baja California Sur with heavy rains, and that life threatening winds and flash floods (were) expected to occur soon.

It could bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of the U.S. Southwest later in the week.Polo is forecast to be near major hurricane strength when it reaches Baja California Sur later today, and is anticipated to be a hurricane when it makes landfall in mainland Mexico late tonight or early Tuesday morning, the center said.By Monday morning, waves began to crash and flood coastal areas. Laura Velzquez, national coordinator of Mexicos Civil Protection Agency, reported that Polo would make landfall later in the afternoon.At a Monday morning news briefing, she urged residents to stay off the streets and seek shelter if their homes are at risk.

She said travel will be suspended in the area where the hurricane was expected to make landfall and that ports across the region would be closed.The storm is expected to push a risk of heavy rainfall and flash flooding further inland to Southwestern U.S. states later this week, forecasters say.Parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Colorado could see three inches of rain and up to six inches in areas. In New Mexico, recent rainy weather has left the groun…

Residents of Mexico's Baja California Sur state are preparing for Hurricane Polo, which threatens high winds, floods, and mudslides.