Residents in parts of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula prepared for Hurricane Polo on Monday as the powerful storm threatened high winds, heavy rainfall, flooding and mudslides. In Puerto San Carlos, a fishing community of about 5,700 people, residents reinforced embankments with dirt and rubble while some families prepared to move to shelters in Ciudad Constitución, about 60 kilometres away.

Local authorities urged residents in high-risk areas to evacuate as high tides and strong waves raised fears that existing barriers could fail and allow seawater to enter the community. Fisherman Rocío Sánchez said residents were particularly concerned about the combination of rising tides, expected waves and strong winds. Emergency preparations were also under way in San Juanico, another small fishing community along Baja California’s Pacific coast.

Polo was a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) on Monday morning, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Forecasters warned that the storm could approach major hurricane strength near Baja California Sur before weakening somewhat as it moved toward mainland Mexico. The storm was expected to bring heavy rainfall capable of triggering life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with the U.S. Southwest also potentially receiving heavy rain later in the week.

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The Mexican navy said it had positioned personnel and humanitarian supplies at the Pacific ports of Guaymas and Mazatlan and deployed three vessels capable of delivering assistance to coastal communities isolated by the storm. In San Juanico, authorities prepared a shelter and army personnel arrived to support emergency operations. Residents also expressed concern that flooding could wash out roads and cut off access to medical facilities, particularly in communities that remain vulnerable to power and transport disruptions.

Meanwhile, another Pacific storm, Nolo, remained southwest of Hawaii and was moving away from the Big Island, although wind and high-surf advisories remained in effect. Forecasters warned that Nolo’s outer bands could still produce dangerous flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island potentially receiving up to 20 inches (50 centimetres) of rain. More than 120 National Guard members had been activated in Hawaii as the state continued recovering from the effects of Hurricane Lala, which caused severe damage and displaced homes from their foundations.

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