At one point, Hurricane Polo was one of the most powerful hurricanes on record in the Eastern Pacific, but it has since been downgraded to a Category 3<\/a> storm.<\/p>\n Polo is expected to make landfall on Monday as a hurricane, with the potential to heavily impact Mexico and the Southwest.<\/p>\n CALIFORNIA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AS POTENTIALLY HISTORIC SUPER EL NI\u00d1O LOOMS<\/a><\/p>\n Because of the impending threat, a Hurricane<\/a> Warning is in effect across central Baja California, extending to Santa Fe, Mexico.<\/p>\n This is unusual, as the last hurricane to make landfall in Baja California, Mexico, was Norma in October 2023.<\/p>\n TOPSHOT – Wind blows palm trees before the arrival of hurricane Norma at Los Cabos, Baja California State, Mexico, on October 21, 2023. Hurricane Norma is expected to slam into Mexico’s northwestern coast within hours, bringing “life-threatening” winds, flooding, and a dangerous sea surge, authorities warned Saturday. The storm, still powerful though downgraded overnight from Category 3 to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was headed toward a part of Mexico’s Baja California coast popular with tourists.\u00a0<\/p>\n (JOEL COSIO\/AFP \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Forecasters expect the storm to drop up to 10 inches of rain<\/a> across the region, which could result in life-threatening flooding<\/a> and mudslides in especially steep areas.<\/p>\n Due to the increasing storm threat, California<\/a> Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency<\/a>.<\/p>\n HURRICANE POLO EXPLODES INTO ONE OF PACIFIC\u2019S STRONGEST HURRICANES EVER<\/a><\/p>\n “That is what this action is about,” Newsom said. “Giving communities the support they need, giving first responders the tools to do their jobs, and giving families the confidence that their state is ready.”<\/p>\n Currently, Polo is forecast to approach the West<\/a> Coast of Baja California Sur on Monday and move across the peninsula later in the evening, when Americans in California will eventually start to see the effects of the storm.<\/p>\n At its strongest, Hurricane Polo produced wind<\/a> gusts up to 110 mph and the second-lowest pressure ever observed in the East or Central Pacific, according to the FOX Forecast Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n Impacts are expected in the southwestern U.S., mainly California<\/a>, New Mexico<\/a> and Arizona<\/a>, as well as northwest Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HURRICANE MAKING A DIRECT HIT AND LANDFALL?<\/a><\/p>\n Nearly the entire state of Arizona is under a Flood Watch, including popular cities such as Flagstaff<\/a> and Tucson<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since 1950, only nine remnant tropical storms<\/a> or hurricanes have survived the trio over the mountains and deserts of the Southwest to affect southern Arizona or New Mexico.<\/p>\n WHAT IS A TROPICAL STORM?<\/a><\/p>\n Popular locations that could see impacts from the hurricane include El Paso, Texas<\/a>, where the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch through Tuesday night as the storm inches closer.<\/p>\n BENSON, AZ – SEPTEMBER 29: \u00a0A heavy rain storm approaches on September 29, 2016 near Benson, Arizona. Stoms have greened traditionally dryer areas north of the U.S.-Mexico border. \u00a0<\/p>\n (\u00a0John Moore \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"TOPSHOT](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/gettyimages-1737954530-1-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThis graphic shows the expected forecast track of Polo.
(FOX Weather)
\u00a0<\/p>\nThis graphic shows the latest stats from Hurricane Polo.
(FOX Weather)
\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"BENSON,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/gettyimages-611552830-scaled.jpg\")
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