Hurricane Polo made landfall along Mexico's northern Pacific coast Tuesday, striking Baja California Sur just south of the surfing and fishing village of Las Barrancas with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h), Mexican officials said.
The storm lashed the peninsula with life-threatening winds and heavy rain that flooded coastal areas even before its center reached shore. Residents in threatened zones were urged to seek shelter.
Polo is moving northeast and is forecast to continue crossing Baja California Sur before pushing inland over southern Sonora later Tuesday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm should weaken as it moves over the peninsula but is expected to remain at hurricane strength when it makes a second landfall on mainland Mexico.
Meteorologists warned Polo could dump 6 to 12 inches (150-300 mm) of rain across parts of Baja California Sur, raising the risk of dangerous flash flooding and mudslides in the region's rugged terrain.
Shopkeeper María Palomino, 57, rode out the storm's approach at a high school converted into a temporary shelter. "If something happens, it's better to come to the shelter," she told AFP news agency.
A whale-watching and fishing guide boarding up his home told AFP the storm was "coming with full force."
Baja California Sur is no stranger to Pacific hurricanes, but Polo's strength at landfall makes it a serious test for communities scattered along the peninsula's southern tip, where tourism and fishing drive the local economy. Los Cabos, a resort hub farther south, has rebuilt repeatedly after major storms in recent years.
Forecasters said Polo's second landfall on the Mexican mainland could bring renewed flooding to Sonora, a largely desert state where heavy rain often overwhelms drainage systems and rural roads.
Authorities have not yet released damage assessments or casualty reports. Emergency crews are expected to begin surveying flooded areas once the core of the storm clears the peninsula.
The National Hurricane Center continues to track Polo's path and is issuing regular advisories as the storm moves inland.
