The National Hurricane Center has issued urgent alerts for flash floods and dangerous gusts across Sonora and western Mexico through Tuesday. Hurricane Polo is forecast to make landfall in Baja California Sur on September 28, bringing sustained winds of 60 to 80 mph and heavy rain to the peninsula. Conditions began deteriorating Monday morning in the popular tourist region as the system makes its approach with Category 3 strength.

The storm peaked as a Category 5 and is among the most powerful Pacific cyclones in decades, with NOAA aircraft recording winds of 180 mph in the eyewall. Polo is the third Category 5 hurricane this season and previously forced port closures and class suspensions in Colima while producing high surf in Cabo.