A strengthening hurricane in the Pacific Ocean is set to bring more humid and uncharacteristic weather straight toward Southern California.
Just weeks after Hurricane Marie battered the state with coastal flooding and high tides, Tropical Storm Polo intensified into Hurricane Polo on Monday afternoon.
“POLO CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY AND IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE ON TUESDAY,” the National Hurricane Center (NWC) said.
The hurricane could bring heavy rainfall that could set off major floods and landslides across the country. While Polo is expected to stay offshore, the moisture may trigger flood warnings in New Mexico beginning Tuesday.
Any effects coming from the hurricane will likely not reach Southern California until the end of this weekend, at the earliest, according to what a NWC meteorologist told the LA Times.
Polo is being classified as a Category 1 hurricane but the hurricane center is forecasting the storm to be at Category 5 with 160 mph winds by late Tuesday. The storm is currently located in the North Pacific Ocean off of the southwestern coast of Mexico.
This news comes as Governor Gavin Newsom announced a state of emergency on Monday in anticipation of winter storms and to combat what is already a historic El Niño season.
“The Governor’s action puts California in a stronger position before winter weather intensifies. It directs state agencies to begin protecting vulnerable communities, prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stage emergency supplies, and help local partners reduce flood, landslide, and coastal risks,” the emergency reads.
Alongside Polo, two other tropical storms also formed in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans over the weekend. Tropical Storm Fay and Odalys are being monitored but are expected to have less impact than Polo.
Hurricane Polo is already the 16th named storm to form in the Eastern Pacific this year.
