Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico with heavy rain and severe damage

Puerto San Carlos, Mexico: Hurricane Polo is expected to make landfall on Monday near the small fishing town of Puerto San Carlos, bringing potentially destructive winds, heavy rain and flash floods.

The Category 3 hurricane is forecast to affect Mexico's Baja California Sur and Sonora states, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). The agency warned of ‘life-threatening winds and flash floods’ on Monday and Tuesday.

Puerto San Carlos, home to nearly 6,000 people, is directly in the storm's path. Few homes and businesses had boarded up their doors and windows on Sunday as residents prepared for the hurricane.

Polo is also expected to make a second landfall in north-western Mexico on Monday or Tuesday.

Mexico regularly faces hurricanes along its Pacific and Atlantic coasts between May and November. This year's storm season has been intensified by the El Nino weather pattern, which can alter winds, rainfall and weather conditions worldwide.