The predicted path of Hurricane Polo as of Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center, involves a loop outward from mainland Mexico and inward toward Baja California Sur, with landfall in the Magdalena Bay region beginning Monday.
Polo will spin around Cabo San Lucas in the Pacific and sweep across the Baja California Peninsula, entering the Sea of Cortez north of La Paz early Tuesday, still at hurricane strength.
The NHC has not yet issued watches or warnings yet for regions in Baja California Sur, but that will change and resort destinations and communities are already watching closely. (Cabo San Lucas ordered a port closure beginning Thursday.)
As of Thursday morning, Polo was located was located 195 miles west-southwest of Zihuatanejo
and 150 miles south of Manzanillo as it churned toward the west-northwest at about 10 mph, with sustained winds of 155 mph.
These mainland regions remained under Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings.
In Cabo San Lucas on Baja’s tip, a heavy rain and pounding surf are expected by the weekend, as folks express hope that the storm doesn’t take an unexpected turn toward Land’s End.
The Cabo Sun reported Thursday: "While the core of this Category 5 storm is currently projected to remain offshore, the sheer size of Polo guarantees that Cabo will experience significant and dangerous coastal impacts through the weekend."
Regarding the port closure, the Cabo Sun added: "That means sunset catamaran cruises, snorkeling trips to Pelican Rock, and boat rides out to the Arch are temporarily shut down.
"Furthermore, the Pacific beaches in Cabo are already notorious for dangerous surf, and storm swells make them completely unswimmable. Red and black warning flags will be up along the coastline, and entering the water will be strictly prohibited for your safety."
La Paz, likewise, is bracing for a drenching and whatever else Polo may bring.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Nervous time in Los Cabos as powerful Hurricane Polo begins approach
