Hurricane Polo threatens Baja California as Nolo drifts from Hawaii

Mexico’s Baja California peninsula is on high alert as Hurricane Polo, a Category 3 system, barrels toward the coast, while the Hawaiian Islands experience a reprieve as Hurricane Nolo shifts farther offshore, according to NPR.

The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for the western coast of Baja, warning of storm surge that could exceed five feet, gale‑force winds and torrential rainfall that may trigger flash flooding. Local officials in the states of Baja California Sur and Baja California have begun evacuations of low‑lying communities and are positioning emergency shelters, NPR reported.

In contrast, Hurricane Nolo, which had been projected to brush the Hawaiian archipelago, has turned westward, keeping the islands out of its most dangerous quadrants. The system is now expected to stay well east of the islands, reducing the immediate threat of high surf and wind damage, NPR said.

The 2026 Pacific hurricane season has been unusually active, with several major storms forming earlier than climatological averages. Historically, the Eastern Pacific generates a higher proportion of storms that move westward into open ocean, but warm sea‑surface temperatures this year have steered more systems toward the Mexican coastline. Experts note that the convergence of two sizable cyclones in the same basin is rare and raises concerns about compounded impacts on regional infrastructure and disaster response resources.

Residents of tourist hubs such as Cabo San Lucas and La Paz are being urged to secure property and stock essential supplies. The Mexican Navy has pre‑positioned vessels to assist with potential evacuations, and the federal civil protection agency is coordinating with state governments to monitor river levels and road conditions. Meanwhile, Hawaiian authorities are standing down some of the earlier emergency measures but remain vigilant, keeping shelters on standby should Nolo’s path change.

Forecasters expect Polo to make landfall within the next 48 hours, after which it could weaken over the rugged terrain but still deliver heavy rain inland. The storm’s trajectory will be closely watched by both Mexican and U.S. agencies, as any shift could affect the Pacific coast of California. Continued updates from the National Hurricane Center and local weather services will guide the next phases of preparation and response.