Hurricane Polo Reaches 180 mph Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast

Reports from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft prompted the National Hurricane Center to raise Hurricane Polo's estimated sustained winds to 180 mph (285 km/h) on September 22. The Category 5 storm was nearly stationary off southwestern Mexico, and forecasters expected it to move generally west-northwest while remaining offshore over the next two days. A tropical storm warning was in effect from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo, where tropical storm conditions were expected by early Wednesday. The center forecast 3 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated totals of 8 inches, along coastal Guerrero and Michoacán through Thursday, warning of potentially dangerous flooding and mudslides. Update — September 23, 2026, 18:00 UTC Polo had weakened to Category 4, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center. It was about 150 miles (240 km) south-southwest of Zihuatanejo and moving northwest at 5 mph (7 km/h). Its core was forecast to stay offshore but pass near southwestern Mexico over the next day or two. Rainbands were affecting the coast. A tropical storm warning remained in force from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo, with a watch westward to Playa Perula. Through Thursday, September 24, Guerrero's coast was forecast to receive 4–6 inches of rain, locally 8 inches; coastal Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco could receive 2–4 inches. The NHC warned of potentially life-threatening flooding, mudslides, dangerous surf, rip currents and coastal flooding.