Hurricane Polo makes landfall in Baja California Sur

Hurricane Polo made landfall on the Baja California peninsula of Mexico on Tuesday, bringing life-threatening winds, heavy rainfall, and widespread power outages. Classified as a Category 3 storm with winds reaching 175 km/h, the hurricane struck south of Las Barrancas, impacting coastal towns such as Loreto, Ciudad Constitucion, and Puerto San Carlos. In response, Mexican authorities deployed approximately 7,000 troops to the region to assist with emergency operations, while maritime activities were suspended and beach access was restricted.

Prior to the arrival of the storm, local business owners in Baja California Sur took precautions by boarding up windows and doors. Laura Velazquez, the head of the national civil protection agency, advised citizens to remain calm despite the expected interruptions to electricity and internet services. The US National Hurricane Centre warned that the storm would continue to track inland toward southern Sonora. Meteorological experts have also issued warnings for heavy rainfall and potential flooding in various US states, including Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado, which have been suffering from prolonged drought conditions. The current season's increased storm activity is being attributed to the ongoing El Nino weather phenomenon, which has caused significant warming in the Pacific.