HURRICANE HITS BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA

TIJUANA, SEPTEMBER 29 /SRNA/ - Hurricane "Polo" hit Mexico's Baja California Peninsula with winds reaching around 175 kilometers per hour.

Mexico's National Meteorological Service, Conagua, said on X that the storm struck an area near the town of Las Barrancas around midnight as a Category 2 hurricane.

Authorities urged residents to seek shelter and follow civil protection instructions, warning of life-threatening winds, flash floods and heavy rainfall.

The US National Hurricane Center said the storm would cross the peninsula from west to east and reach the Mexican mainland by morning, where it would be somewhat weaker.

Before making landfall, Hurricane "Polo" had already caused significant damage in Mexico’s western state of Jalisco. Local civil protection authorities said at least two people had been killed and three were missing following heavy rainfall and landslides.

At one point, as it moved along Mexico's Pacific coast, the storm strengthened to the highest, Category 5 level.

Additional flooding is forecast in parts of the states of Baja California Sur and Sonora due to the expected rainfall.

An exceptionally strong El Niño climate phenomenon is causing an unusual hurricane season this year, DPA reported.

While nine hurricanes have already formed in the Pacific, three of them reaching the highest, Category 5 level, none has developed in the Atlantic. The hurricane season ends on November 1.

Meanwhile, Hurricane "Nolo" caused flooding in parts of Hawaii over the weekend.

The storm was classified as a Category 4 hurricane yesterday, and was expected to approach the Papahānaumokuākea protected area today, northwest of the main Hawaiian islands.

The storm is not expected to affect the main islands. Tropical Storm "Rachel" has also formed off Mexico's southern Pacific coast. The National Hurricane Center said "Rachel" is expected to continue strengthening, reach hurricane strength tomorrow and move over the ocean along the coast.