{"id":862747,"date":"2026-09-27T19:20:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T19:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/862747\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T19:20:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T19:20:09","slug":"hurricane-polo-barrels-toward-mexico-as-socal-braces-for-dangerous-surf-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/862747\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricane Polo barrels toward Mexico as SoCal braces for dangerous surf, flooding"},"content":{"rendered":"

A massive hurricane is barreling toward Mexico as Southern California braces for dangerous surf<\/a>, powerful rip currents and coastal flooding \u2014 with the storm\u2019s enormous swells expected to slam into beaches across the region.<\/p>\n

Hurricane Polo<\/a> is forecast to make landfall in\u00a0Baja California Sur on Monday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<\/a>, after exploding into one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the eastern Pacific.<\/p>\n

But while Polo is\u00a0not expected to make a direct hit on Southern California, its massive wave energy is expected to surge north toward the coast, with the most significant impacts forecast for Monday and Tuesday.<\/p>\n

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A worker makes repairs to a home that was damaged by large waves along Belmont Shore Beach, Sept. 25. Getty Images<\/p>\n

High waves caused by Hurricane Polo batter a small island off the coast of San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico, Sept. 26. REUTERS<\/p>\n

Swells are expected to begin arriving late Sunday, while high tides could reach around\u00a07 feet, raising the threat of flooding along beaches, walkways and low-lying coastal areas.<\/p>\n

The NWS warned LA and Ventura counties could see four to seven-foot surf<\/a>, along with strong rip currents, beach erosion and possible coastal flooding as the large swell arrives during high tide.<\/p>\n

Areas of particular concern include the\u00a0Long Beach Peninsula, Belmont Shore, Malibu<\/a> and Avalon, although dangerous conditions could extend along much of the Southern California coastline.<\/p>\n

Video shared by\u00a0NOAA\u2019s Hurricane Hunters\u00a0shows a WP-3D aircraft plunging directly through Polo\u2019s violent eyewall. Billy Wysinger\/NOAA<\/p>\n

Long Beach city workers make repairs and add reinforcements to a temporary sea wall in front of homes, Sept. 25. Getty Images<\/p>\n

The coastline is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Marie earlier this month, with powerful swells, king tides and dangerous surf causing widespread erosion and infrastructure damage. <\/p>\n

Long Beach, Malibu and other coastal communities saw flooding, damaged seawalls and significant beach erosion, leaving some areas vulnerable as they continue to deal with the storm\u2019s aftermath.<\/p>\n

In Long Beach and Seal Beach, crews have been reinforcing sand berms and preparing for flooding.<\/p>\n

In Seal Beach, lifeguard stands were removed<\/a> from portions of the beach after erosion left some areas with little safe space for the equipment.<\/p>\n

California\u2019s Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as the West Coast readies for El Ni\u00f1o. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Long Beach officials have also been working to strengthen the sand berm protecting homes along the peninsula and preparing sandbags and pumps ahead of the expected swell.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main concern with this particular system is the significant wave energy, very dangerous surf, significant and potentially dangerous to deadly rip currents will also be occurring,\u201d NOAA\u2019s Dr. Ariel Cohen told KTLA<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The coastal threat has become so serious that wildlife officials even relocated two newly discovered olive ridley sea turtle nests from Seal Beach and Huntington Beach to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, citing the combination of high tides and dangerous surf.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hurricane Polo is forecast to make landfall in\u00a0Baja California Sur on Monday.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, dramatic footage from inside Polo shows just how powerful the hurricane became.<\/p>\n

Video shared by\u00a0NOAA\u2019s Hurricane Hunters\u00a0shows a WP-3D aircraft plunging directly through Polo\u2019s violent eyewall.<\/p>\n

In the cockpit, the aircraft can be seen violently rattling and bouncing as the crew pushes toward the eye, before the turbulent ride gives way to an eerie pocket of calm.<\/p>\n

Another view from the flight shows blue sky surrounded by towering white clouds as the aircraft emerges inside the hurricane\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n

Polo previously reached an extraordinary\u00a0180 mph, with central pressure dropping to about\u00a0892 millibars, placing it among the most intense eastern Pacific hurricanes ever measured.<\/p>\n

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