Tropical Storm Polo Eyes Major Hurricane Strength as 16th Pacific Storm Threatens Mexico
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · Sep 21
Tropical Storm Polo Eyes Major Hurricane Strength as 16th Pacific Storm Threatens Mexico
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Sep 21
Summary
Forecasters expect Tropical Storm Polo to rapidly strengthen into a major hurricane off southwestern Mexico, where heavy rain could trigger life-threatening flooding and landslides.
Southern California’s outlook remains uncertain because Polo’s impact depends on upper-atmosphere steering, though any effects likely would not arrive until late weekend at the earliest.
The most likely California impact is a stronger south swell and higher surf, a concern for coastlines already hit by erosion that prompted local emergencies in Laguna Beach, Dana Point and Carlsbad.
Polo is the eastern Pacific’s 16th named storm this year, forming during a powerful El Niño that officials say could bring an unusually active season and high-impact winter storms to California.
As Hurricane Polo remains offshore, could its invisible moisture plume trigger a worse disaster inland than a direct coastal strike?
With Pacific waters unusually warm, what unprecedented global weather chaos will this historic El Niño unleash next?
With multiple active Pacific cyclones, how will these simultaneous storms disrupt global supply chains and overwhelm vulnerable coastal infrastructures?