Hurricane Polo nears Mexico as Hawaii braces for possible storm
Hurricane Polo has intensified into a Category 5 storm off the coast of Mexico, while another system, Odalys, threatens a rare meteorological interaction. Meanwhile, Hawaii is monitoring a separate developing storm as the Pacific basin experiences an unusually active season.
Why it matters
The extreme weather activity highlights the impact of climate patterns like El Niño on global weather stability and disaster preparedness.
Hear this story The wild and woolly Pacific basin – fueled by a powerful El Niño – continues to spew forth tropical cyclones of all shapes and sizes. As of the afternoon of Sept. 22, a dangerous Category 5 180-mph hurricane (Hurricane Polo) was threatening the west coast of Mexico and pushing a swath of moisture into New Mexico.
At the same time, a smaller developing system was being watched nervously close to Hawaii.
And to top it off, yet another tropical cyclone, Odalys, could be drawn into a rare meteorological dance in the eastern Pacific with Polo known as the Fujiwhara Effect.
All the action in the Pacific is in contrast to the sleepy Atlantic basin, which has yet to see a single hurricane so far this year. Only six rather unremarkable tropical storms have formed there this season.
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