Coastal communities in Mexico and Hawaii are on high alert as two powerful Pacific storms develop simultaneously. In Mexico, Hurricane Polo, fluctuating between Category 4 and 5, is expected to bring life‑threatening flooding and landslides to the states of Guerrero and Michoacán. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Nolo is gathering strength off the southern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island and could become a hurricane by early Saturday, bringing more than two feet of rain to the islands.
Mexico: Sandbags, evacuations and shelter openings
Residents along Mexico’s west coast have been stacking sandbags to protect beachfront shops and evacuating homes in high‑risk areas. In the port city of Lázaro Cárdenas, seawater swept through streets on Thursday, leaving wooden planks and furniture scattered. Mexican authorities have opened shelters, cleared beaches, and deployed about 15,000 security personnel to assist with evacuations, though exact numbers of displaced residents have not been released.
Local business owner Alicia Contreras described the damage to her restaurant, noting that 15‑foot (4.5‑meter) waves destroyed walls and the roof. “This is huge because we have no other source of income. Now we’re just surviving,” she said, highlighting the economic vulnerability of many coastal towns that rely on tourism and fishing.
Authorities have suspended schools in the affected regions and are working to clear debris, including piles of wooden planks and thick mud that have coated streets and damaged structures. The National Hurricane Center warned that Polo could hook back toward the coast farther north on Saturday, increasing the risk of additional flooding.
Hawaii: Preparing for a possible hurricane
On Hawaii’s side of the Pacific, forecasters expect Tropical Storm Nolo to intensify into a major hurricane, potentially dumping 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain on the Big Island and causing life‑threatening floods and mudslides on Maui. John Bravender, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, emphasized that the heaviest rain is likely to fall over the same southeastern region of the Big Island that was hit by Hurricane Lala in August, where the ground remains saturated.
Hawaii officials have urged residents to assemble emergency kits, and the governor issued an emergency proclamation that activated more than 230 Hawaii National Guard members. Schools were closed for the remainder of the week, and Hawaiian Electric redirected crews from recent restoration work on Kauai to assist with power protection on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.
Broader climate context
Both storms are occurring amid a strong El Niño event, which typically suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity while enhancing Pacific tropical cyclone formation through increased moisture and reduced wind shear. The region has already endured a busy weather season, with Hawaii experiencing major flooding in the spring, an earthquake, and two other hurricanes since mid‑August.
“In my 20 years of experience here, I’ve never seen three hurricane watches for the islands in the same year,” Bravender noted, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the current weather pattern.
Looking ahead
Residents in both Mexico and Hawaii are urged to stay informed through local weather updates and to follow evacuation orders where issued. While the immediate threat from Hurricane Polo appears to be offshore, its potential to loop back toward the Mexican coastline remains a concern. In Hawaii, the uncertainty surrounding Nolo’s exact track means that communities must remain prepared for rapid changes in wind and rain intensity.
Authorities in both regions continue to monitor the storms closely, coordinating with federal agencies and local emergency services to mitigate damage and protect lives.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
