Polo Nears Baja, With Second Landfall Forecast

Hurricane Polo, which briefly reached Category 5 strength before weakening, is nearing Baja California Sur and is forecast to make landfall Monday with hurricane-force winds. Mexican authorities have urged evacuations from vulnerable coastal areas, opened shelters, suspended some classes and closed ports. Forecasters warn that 6 to 12 inches of rain could trigger life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, while storm surge and dangerous waves threaten coastal communities. Polo is expected to cross the peninsula and make a second landfall in Sonora before weakening; its moisture could bring heavy rain and flooding risks to parts of the U.S. Southwest and central states, and its swells could raise surf and rip-current risks farther north.