On September 28, 2026, Hurricane Polo, a powerful Category‑3 storm, battered Baja California Sur with 115 mph winds and up to 10 inches of rain, forcing school shutdowns, evacuations, and a major humanitarian response across the border in the U.S. Southwest.

Hurricane Polo Crisis Overview

Date: 28 September 2026
Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Category: Category‑3 (winds 115 mph / 185 km/h, gusts near 130 mph)
Rainfall: 4‑8 inches (up to 10 inches in isolated zones)

Geopolitical Note

The storm’s name, POLO, is written in uppercase when referring to the official meteorological system.

Background & Climate Context

Since early 2026, El Niño conditions have warmed the tropical Pacific, fueling a higher frequency of intense storms. The 2023‑2025 Pacific hurricane seasons have shown a noticeable rise in Category‑3+ systems, a trend linked to climate change. Neighboring Southern California and the Southwest U.S. have previously issued flood warnings under similar atmospheric setups.