Hurricane Polo weakened to a Category 4 storm Saturday as it moved offshore in the Pacific, but forecasters say it is expected to turn back toward Mexico and make landfall in Baja California Sur on Monday.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Polo was about 531 kilometres southwest of Cabo San Lucas with maximum sustained winds of 233 km/h. The storm was moving northwest at about 14 km/h after being downgraded from Category 5.
Forecasters expect Polo to weaken further before landfall, likely arriving as a Category 2 hurricane. Heavy rain of 10 to 20 centimetres, with isolated totals reaching 25 centimetres, could trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides across parts of Baja California Sur.
Authorities have already ordered evacuations, closed ports and cancelled classes in some coastal areas as dangerous surf and high waves continue along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
