Hurricane Polo unleashes Category 4 fury on Mexico's Pacific coast

Hurricane Polo, which reached peak sustained winds of 155 mph and briefly attained Category 5 status, is now a Category 4 system striking Mexico’s Pacific coast. Positioned roughly 195 miles southwest of Zihuatanejo and 150 miles south of Manzanillo, the cyclone’s outer bands are generating monster waves that have slammed into Acapulco, as shown in circulating videos. The National Hurricane Center notes that hurricane-force winds extend 40 miles from the eye and tropical-storm-force winds up to 125 miles, prompting the closure of several Pacific ports.

Expected rainfall of 2-4 inches, with isolated amounts of 6 inches, will affect Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit. AccuWeather predicts the storm will turn toward the Baja California Peninsula, possibly making landfall late Sunday or Monday, and could draw moisture into Texas. The National Weather Service warns that Southern California counties may see 4-7-foot swells, dangerous rip currents and a slight chance of rain.