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Tropical Storm Polo strengthens as Mexico issues coastal watch
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Coastal warnings end while rain and surf hazards persist
Mexico discontinued its tropical-storm warning and watch as Hurricane Polo’s core moved away from the southwestern coast. At 21:00 UTC, the National Hurricane Center classified Polo as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds near 150 mph, centered about 155 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo and moving west-northwest. Ending the warnings indicates that sustained tropical-storm conditions are no longer expected along the warned area, but it does not mean all hazards have passed: additional heavy rain, dangerous surf, rip currents and coastal flooding remained possible.
Hurricane Polo Public Advisory Number 17 · Hurricane Polo is a powerful Category 4 storm off Mexico. See its path.
Winds ease to 155 mph as Polo turns away from the coast
Hurricane Polo’s sustained winds decreased from 160 to 155 mph, returning it to Category 4 as its center moved west-northwest away from southwestern Mexico. The change in classification does not end coastal effects: a tropical-storm warning remained from Tecpan de Galeana to Manzanillo. Forecasters expected another 2–4 inches of rain in several coastal states, with isolated totals of 6 inches, while swells could produce hazardous surf, rip currents and coastal flooding.
Tropical-storm warning extends westward to Manzanillo
Mexico extended its tropical-storm warning westward from Punta San Telmo to Manzanillo, the National Hurricane Center said. Category 5 Hurricane Polo had sustained winds of 160 mph and was centered about 130 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo. Its core was forecast to remain offshore through Thursday morning, although tropical-storm conditions and heavy rain were expected along parts of the coast.
Sustained winds increase to 160 mph while the center remains offshore
Hurricane Polo regained Category 5 intensity at 00:40 UTC September 24, with estimated sustained winds increasing to 160 mph from 145 mph in the story’s previous update, the National Hurricane Center said. Its center remained offshore about 145 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo, moving northwest at 6 mph. The higher classification records renewed rapid strengthening; it does not indicate a new landfall.
National Hurricane Center Hurricane Polo advisory archive · Hurricane Polo Tropical Cyclone Update — 00:40 UTC September 24, 2026
Polo moves northwest with sustained winds of 145 mph
Hurricane Polo was moving northwest at 5 mph with sustained winds of 145 mph at 18:00 UTC September 23, the National Hurricane Center reported. Polo remained a Category 4 hurricane offshore, about 150 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo. Rainbands were affecting southwestern Mexico, while the tropical-storm warning from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo and the adjoining watch area remained unchanged.
Outer bands reach the coast as Polo weakens offshore
Polo’s northern rainbands were brushing southwestern Mexico’s coast at 09:00 UTC September 23, the National Hurricane Center reported. Sustained winds had declined to 155 mph from 175 mph nine hours earlier, reducing Polo from Category 5 to Category 4 while its center remained offshore. The NHC expected the core to stay just off the coast through Thursday, but warned of heavy rain and tropical-storm-force winds in coastal areas. Reuters reported forecast totals of 3–8 inches in Guerrero and Michoacán through Thursday. Mexican authorities activated command posts in four states to coordinate assessments, shelters and possible preventive evacuations.
National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Polo Discussion Number 11 · Reuters: Outer rainbands of major Hurricane Polo reach Mexico’s coast
Polo reaches Category 5 as a coastal warning remains in effect
Hurricane Polo reached Category 5 intensity offshore southwestern Mexico, with sustained winds of 180 mph at 21:00 UTC September 22, the National Hurricane Center reported. At 00:00 UTC September 23, winds were 175 mph. A tropical-storm warning remained in effect from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo. The center forecasts that Polo’s core will stay offshore, while tropical-storm conditions and heavy rain remain possible along the coast.
National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Polo Intermediate Advisory 9A, September 23, 00:00 UTC · National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Polo Advisory 9, September 22, 21:00 UTC
Winds reach 110 mph as coastal watch extends to Manzanillo
Polo’s sustained winds reached 110 mph and its central pressure fell to 964 millibars at 03:00 UTC September 22, up from 85 mph six hours earlier, the National Hurricane Center reported. The tropical-storm watch was extended northward to Manzanillo as the hurricane moved east-southeast offshore. The NHC forecast further strengthening and said Polo’s core could approach southwestern Mexico while remaining offshore, but its eventual track and effects remain uncertain. Any additional intensification is a forecast, not an observed outcome.
Falling pressure accompanies eyewall reorganization offshore
NOAA Hurricane Hunter data showed Polo beginning an eyewall cycle, with two wind maxima and central pressure falling about 1 millibar per hour. At 21:00 UTC September 21, the National Hurricane Center estimated sustained winds at 85 mph. Its forecast—not an observed outcome—projected 115 mph within 12 hours, 145 mph within 24 hours and a peak of 165 mph within 48 hours. The core was forecast to remain near or south of southwestern Mexico’s coast, although track and effects remain uncertain. The NHC warned that heavy rain along coastal southwestern Mexico through Thursday could cause flooding and mudslides, particularly on steep terrain.
National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Polo Forecast Discussion Number 5
Sustained winds reach 80 mph as Polo strengthens offshore
Polo strengthened into a hurricane by 18:00 UTC September 21, with sustained winds of 80 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported. A NOAA aircraft located its center about 305 kilometres south-southwest of Zihuatanejo. The tropical-storm watch from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo remained unchanged, with relevant conditions possible Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Further intensification was forecast, but its precise track and effects remain uncertain.
National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Polo Public Advisory 4A
Winds reach 65 mph as Polo rapidly intensifies
Polo’s sustained winds reached 65 mph at 15:00 UTC September 21, up from 45 mph six hours earlier. Mexico’s tropical-storm watch remained in effect from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo, with tropical-storm conditions possible Tuesday night or early Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center forecast further rapid strengthening, potentially to a major hurricane, but described the track forecast as low confidence. Its projected path keeps the core near southwestern Mexico’s coast over the next few days, although the precise location and magnitude of effects remain uncertain.
National Hurricane Center: Tropical Storm Polo Advisory Number 4 · National Hurricane Center: Tropical Storm Polo forecast discussion
Mexico issues a tropical-storm watch as Polo strengthens
Mexico issued a tropical-storm watch from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo as Polo’s sustained winds reached 45 mph at 09:00 UTC September 21. The National Hurricane Center forecast rapid intensification and said tropical-storm conditions could reach watched areas Tuesday night or early Wednesday. It projected 4–8 inches of rain, with isolated totals to 12 inches, across coastal Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco through Thursday. Forecast intensity and track remain uncertain.
National Hurricane Center: Tropical Storm Polo Forecast Advisory · Tropical Storm Polo Public Advisory Number 3