Hurricane Polo intensified into a Category 5 cyclone off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Tuesday, bringing potentially life-threatening rainfall and dangerous coastal conditions while remaining offshore.
The storm was described as “extremely dangerous” by the U.S. National Hurricane Center, with an aircraft update reporting maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (290 kph).
Polo was centered about 210 miles (338 kilometers) south of Zihuatanejo around midday and was nearly stationary over the Pacific.
Forecasters expected Polo to move generally west-northwestward over the coming days, keeping its core near southwestern Mexico while remaining offshore.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said available information indicated the hurricane would not make a direct landfall but would skirt the Pacific coast, particularly near Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco.
Authorities temporarily suspended classes in several coastal areas, while Mexico’s Navy closed ports in Guerrero and Michoacán as a precaution.
Fishing boats in Acapulco were pulled onto otherwise empty beaches as rough waves and dark clouds approached the coast.
Strong winds and heavy rainfall were also expected to affect areas around Lázaro Cárdenas and Manzanillo, two major Mexican ports.
Guerrero and Michoacán were forecast to receive about 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) of rain, raising the risk of flash flooding and mudslides.
Smaller rainfall amounts were possible along coastal areas of Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco, while Mexican authorities warned that intense precipitation could cause rivers to overflow.
Rough surf and strong winds were also expected along parts of the coastline.
Forecasters said Polo could eventually move farther from shore, although its future path could be influenced by Tropical Storm Odalys, another Pacific system that was expected to strengthen into a hurricane Tuesday.
Residents remained alert as Polo passed a region that has experienced destructive hurricanes in recent years.
Acapulco was devastated by Hurricane Otis in 2023, and some communities in Guerrero and Oaxaca are still recovering from previous storms.