Twin Hurricanes Nolo and Polo Bear Down on Hawaii and Mexico

Two powerful hurricanes are churning across the Pacific Ocean at the same time, threatening Hawaii with catastrophic flooding and Mexico’s Pacific coast with a Monday-night landfall, forecasters said.

Hurricane Polo, which briefly reached Category 5 strength, was a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 125 mph as of Sunday morning, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. About 200 miles off the Baja California coast and moving north-northwest at 12 mph, it is expected to make landfall on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur on Monday night, Reuters reported. Authorities have ordered evacuations, port closures and school cancellations along Mexico’s Pacific coast, and police restricted beach access in the resort city of San Jose del Cabo as Polo whipped up dangerous surf.

Thousands of miles to the west, Category 2 Hurricane Nolo stalled about 145 miles south of Hawaii’s Big Island with sustained winds near 105 mph. Though it is not expected to make landfall, the NHC warned it could dump 15 to 30 inches of rain — with localised totals as high as 35 inches — producing what it called “catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.” The Big Island is under a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning, with a tropical storm watch for Maui.

Hawaii’s governor has requested a federal emergency declaration as officials position high-water vehicles, open shelters and urge residents to stay off the roads. The two storms are part of an exceptionally active Pacific season fuelled by a powerful El Niño, AccuWeather said.

Sources:

• USA Today: Hurricanes Nolo and Polo — what to know
• Reuters: Category 3 Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico’s coast, landfall expected Monday
• NPR: Hurricane Nolo, a zig-zagging storm, threatens Hawaii with flooding rain