Offshore Hurricane Polo sends rain into Mexico's coast as Nolo nears
Hawaii
[September 24, 2026]
By MEGAN JANETSKY and GABRIELA AOUN
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Powerful Hurricane Polo sent bands of heavy rain
across Mexico's Pacific coast Thursday as a growing Tropical Storm Nolo
approached Hawaii with the potential for catastrophic flooding.
Polo was forecast to maintain Category 5 strength as it skirts Mexico's
coast over the next few days. Rain and strong winds had already started
to pummel the coast, with waves crashing onto the normally pristine
beaches.
While the eye and the strongest winds were expected to remain at sea,
the heavy rains could cause life-threatening flooding and landslides,
according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Farther west in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Nolo was churning about 295
miles (475 kilometers) south of South Point, Hawaii. It was forecast to
become a hurricane by Thursday night and was expected to approach the
Big Island as early as Friday. A hurricane watch was issued for Hawaii
County.
Gov. Josh Green's office said public schools and state and county
offices on the Big Island will close Thursday and Friday, while Maui
County will shutter them on Friday ahead of the threat of heavy rain,
winds and flooding. Forecasters said the storm could drop up to 20
inches (51 centimeters) of rain.
Polo could bring flooding and mudslides to Mexico’s Pacific coast
Concepción López Villegas was busily bolstering her seaside restaurant
in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán state, against the expected onslaught of
rain. Strong waves were already hitting some beaches and López Villegas
said she feared the storm could destroy the small business she worked
decades to build.
“We’re worried and trying to protect our businesses,” López Villegas
said. “And of course, we’re sad because it’s our heritage, our legacy
that from one moment to another could be destroyed.”
Guerrero state was particularly at risk of life-threatening flooding and
mudslides, the hurricane center said.
Polo was swirling about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south-southwest of
Zihuatanejo early Thursday and was moving northwest at 7 mph (11 kph). A
turn west-northwest was forecast for later in the day, taking it further
out to sea, before turning northwest Saturday.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (257 kph), and was
expected to remain a major hurricane for the next few days.
Hurricane-force winds extended up to 40 miles (65 kilometers) from the
eye and tropical-storm-force winds extended up to 115 miles (185
kilometers).
The region most under threat from Polo is rural and mountainous,
scattered with a few small tourist towns and ports. Much of the area is
marked by poverty and residents routinely complain authorities abandon
them to fend for themselves during natural disasters.
Mexico’s government has called for evacuations in some areas and set up
shelters for those affected. Thousands of military and Red Cross
personnel have been deployed to the region as a preventive measure.
Another hurricane could hit Hawaii as soon as Friday
The National Weather Service said Tropical Storm Nolo would likely
strengthen before closing in on the Big Island on Friday or Saturday.
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The storm has the potential to be a major hurricane, John Bravender,
a weather service warning coordination meteorologist, said during a
news conference Wednesday afternoon.
While high winds are expected, Bravender said the main concern is
the possibility of flash flooding. He said 20 to 30 inches (50 to 76
centimeters) of rain could fall through Saturday on southeastern
parts of the Big Island, the same region hit hard in August by
Hurricane Lala.
“That by itself could cause catastrophic flooding, but when you put
that on top of grounds that we’ve been raining off and on for the
last couple of months … that rain could cause even more damage,”
Bravender said.
He urged preparation across all Hawaii islands in case the storm’s
trajectory shifts.
“You need to take action now,” said Bravender. “Today is really the
last dry day you have to get ready.”
Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda told residents in a video message
on social media that they should start preparing now for the storm.
He urged people to put together an emergency kit with food, water
and medications, trim vegetation and clear drains.
“This is a very serious situation,” he said. “We do believe that the
rain is going to come. It's coming already.”
The governor issued an emergency proclamation Tuesday and more than
230 Hawaii National Guard members have been activated, said Maj.
Gen. Stephen Logan, adjutant general of the state’s Department of
Defense.
Kauai’s electric cooperative urged residents to prepare for “the
possibility of prolonged power outages,” and to store nonperishable
food and potable water.
Over 100 Kauai households remain without power from Hurricane
Lowell, which passed west of the island on Sept. 7.
Hawaiian Electric, the state’s primary utility, said crews would
return to at-risk areas in preparation for the coming storm.
Odalys and Fay are not near land
Tropical Storm Fay re-formed early Thursday in the northern Atlantic
Ocean with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65 kph), the U.S.
hurricane center said. It was 935 miles (1,505 kilometers)
west-southwest of the Azores, moving west-southwest at 9 mph (15 kph).
In the Pacific, Hurricane Odalys had winds of 85 mph (137 kph) and
was centered about 1,200 miles (1,940 kilometers) west-southwest of
the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.
___
Aoun reported from San Diego. Associated Press reporters Desiree
Brooks in Atlanta and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this
report.
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