Hurricane Polo made landfall on Mexico’s Baja California Sur coast as a major Category 3 storm on Monday evening, bringing destructive winds of about 185 km per hour and torrential rain. The storm crossed into Sonora state overnight, weakening but continuing to pose a serious flooding and mudslide threat. Authorities have issued hurricane warnings for Sonora’s southern coastline, including Bahia Kino and San Carlos, and schools across the region have been closed.

Baja California Sur received up to 305 millimetres of rainfall, and forecasters warned that Sonora could see a further 200 millimetres. Emergency services are monitoring swollen rivers and saturated hillsides. Polo’s landfall follows a pattern of stronger Pacific storms this season.

Forecasters say the system’s remnants could push moisture northward, potentially bringing heavy rain to Arizona later in the week. Residents in affected areas have been advised to stay indoors and avoid flooded roads. The storm is expected to weaken further over land, but its rainbands remain dangerous. Damage assessments have begun in the hardest-hit coastal zones.