Hurricane Polo (2026)
Category 5 Pacific hurricane in 2026
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hurricane Polo is an active and very powerful tropical cyclone off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The eighteenth named storm, seventh hurricane, fifth major hurricane, and record-tying third Category 5 hurricane of the 2026 Pacific hurricane season, Polo formed on September 20 and explosively intensified into a Category 5 hurricane by September 22.
Polo at Category 5 intensity early on September 22 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 20, 2026 |
| Category 5 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 165 mph (270 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 920 mbar (hPa); 27.17 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Southwestern Mexico |
Part of the 2026 Pacific hurricane season | |
Meteorological history
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionDuring mid-September 2026, an area of investigation was spotted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) located to the south of Mexico. The disturbance then gradually organized in the following days, becoming designated as Invest 99E as a result. The NHC then increased its formation chances to 90% by September 19. The area of low pressure eventually became a tropical depression on September 20 at 21:00 UTC, gaining the designation Tropical Depression Seventeen-E as satellite observations indicated that the system has increased its organized convective banding, with a defined circulation being visible as well.[1] The next day, the NHC upgraded the system to a tropical storm and was assigned the name Polo, as the storm entered a more favorable environment, with 31 °C (88 °F) waters off the coast of Mexico and limited wind shear being observed.[2] It was noted at this time that conditions were extremely favorable for rapid intensification, with the HCCA corrected-consensus aid showing "at least a 99th percentile event for intensification."[2] Shortly thereafter, at 18:00 UTC on the 21st, the NHC upgraded Polo to hurricane status based on data collected via aircraft recon.[3] Intensification was thereafter briefly slowed by an eyewall replacement cycle, which completed before the storm strengthened into a strong Category 2 hurricane at 3:00 UTC on September 22.[4] Explosive intensification then resumed, and Polo became the season's record-tying third Category 5 hurricane by 12:00 UTC of the following day, September 22.[5] The winds increased by 110 mph (180 km/h) in a 24-hour period, one of the fastest rapid intensifications on record.[6]
Preparations
On September 21, a tropical storm watch was issued for the Mexican Pacific coast from Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero, to Manzanillo, Colima.[7] The ports of Acapulco, Lázaro Cárdenas, Puerto Marqués and Zihuatanejo were closed to shipping on September 21. The port of Acapulco also closed to small vessels, including fishing boats, tourist excursions, and yachts.[8] Classes were suspended in coastal regions of the states of Guerrero and Michoacán.[9][10]
CONAGUA readied 21 emergency care centers, 717 brigade units, and 865 teams for disaster management.[11] Temporary shelters with capacity for 200 people opened in Zihuatanejo.[12]
Impact
| Most intense Pacific hurricanes[13] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Hurricane | Season | Pressure | ||
| hPa | inHg | ||||
| 1 | Patricia | 2015 | 872 | 25.75 | |
| 2 | Linda | 1997 | 902 | 26.64 | |
| 3 | Rick | 2009 | 906 | 26.76 | |
| 4 | Kenna | 2002 | 913 | 26.96 | |
| 5 | Ava | 1973 | 915 | 27.02 | |
| Ioke | 2006 | ||||
| 7 | Marie | 2014 | 918 | 27.11 | |
| Odile | |||||
| 9 | Guillermo | 1997 | 919 | 27.14 | |
| 10 | Gilma | 1994 | 920 | 27.17 | |
| Polo | 2026 | 920 | 27.17 | ||
| Listing is only for tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean north of the equator and east of the International Dateline | |||||
Guerrero
A few days prior to Polo's formation, several communities in Guerrero experienced severe flooding, including Zihuatanejo.[11] In Zihuatanejo, heavy rainfall from Polo caused flooding and property damage. At least five vehicles were flooded.[14]
