Hurricane Polo Becomes A Category 5 Storm
Hurricane Polo became one of the fastest-intensifying Pacific storms in recent memory Tuesday morning, reaching Category 5 status with sustained winds of 140 mph less than 24 hours after being named a hurricane, fueled by record-warm ocean temperatures driven by a strengthening Super El Niño.
The storm is currently centered approximately 270 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico.
Although Polo's core is expected to remain offshore, its effects are already being felt far inland. Moisture streaming northward from the storm is enhancing the Southwest monsoon, with a Level 3 out of 4 flash flood threat in effect for southern New Mexico including Las Cruces on Tuesday, shifting north and east to cover Roswell and Albuquerque on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque warned of "life-threatening flash flooding across much of the state." The National Hurricane Center expects four to eight inches of rain along coastal Guerrero and Michoacán in Mexico through Thursday, with isolated totals near twelve inches — enough for dangerous mudslides and flooding.
Tropical Storm Odalys is also churning in the open Pacific more than 1,000 miles west-southwest of Baja California with 65 mph sustained winds, expected to reach hurricane strength by Tuesday night or Wednesday.
The two storms could interact later this week. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said if the interactions go as some models project, Polo would dominate, but Odalys could still alter the track.
