Hurricane Polo, a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was bearing down on northwestern Mexico on Sunday, 28 September, prompting authorities in both Mexico and the United States to urge coastal residents to complete emergency preparations without delay. The storm threatened communities across Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa with destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous wave surges.

Storm Position and Intensity

At midday on Sunday, Polo was located approximately 425 kilometres west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and 460 kilometres southwest of Cabo San Lázaro in Baja California Sur. The hurricane was packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching up to 240 kilometres per hour, and was moving northwest at 17 kilometres per hour. While the storm had weakened from a higher category, it remained highly dangerous, according to Mexico's meteorological service, which projected a possible landfall as early as Monday afternoon.

Warning Zones and Alert Levels

Mexican authorities established a hurricane warning zone between Punta Abreojos and Santa Fe, with additional precautionary measures in place from Loreto to Santa Rosalía. Hurricane and tropical-storm warnings also covered the coastal stretch from Punta Abreojos to Punta Eugenia. Authorities were monitoring the coastline from Loreto to San Evaristo and from Santa Rosalía to San Juan Bautista for potential hurricane or tropical-storm conditions. A hurricane watch was also issued for the Sonora coast between Huatabampito and Bahía Kino, while tropical-storm precautions extended from Huatabampito to Topolobampo in Sinaloa.

Official Safety Instructions

Mexico's National Civil Protection Coordination called on residents across the three affected states to take immediate precautions. The US National Hurricane Center separately urged people in Baja California Sur to accelerate steps to protect lives and property. Officials advised residents to stay away from beaches, rocky areas, breakwaters, and other wave-exposed locations, and warned against crossing streams, rivers, or flooded zones where fast-moving water could develop. Families were asked to identify the nearest temporary shelter and evacuation routes, and to prepare emergency bags containing identity documents, medicines, drinking water, and essential supplies.

Infrastructure and Maritime Disruption

Mexico's Navy closed ports in several states as maritime conditions deteriorated. Northern and central parts of Baja California Sur could receive between 25 and 50 millimetres of rain, while coastal areas were expected to face waves between three and five metres. Sustained local winds away from the storm's core could reach 20 to 40 kilometres per hour, with gusts of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour. Notably, Baja California Sur hosts major tourism centres whose roads, ports, and infrastructure are particularly vulnerable to intense rainfall and storm surges — a pattern repeated regularly during the eastern Pacific hurricane season.

Response on the Ground

Mexico's Civil Protection agency said it was reinforcing its presence in vulnerable areas to anticipate resource requirements and coordinate protection for communities. Residents were instructed to follow any evacuation orders immediately and to rely exclusively on official meteorological and civil-protection channels for guidance. As Monday's projected landfall approached, authorities warned that conditions could deteriorate rapidly with little additional notice.