A tropical storm off the south‑west coast of Mexico has intensified into a Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours, driven by unusually strong El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean. Hurricane Polo now has maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (266 km/h) and is located about 215 miles south of Zihuatanejo in Guerrero state. The storm grew from a tropical storm on Monday, with winds below 74 mph, to a major hurricane by Tuesday, a rapid change that reflects this year’s record‑setting super El Niño.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami warned that Mexico is unlikely to see a direct hit, but that further strengthening is possible. They also cautioned that inland areas could face life‑threatening flooding and mudslides, while dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along the coast.
El Niño occurs when extended ocean temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific rise above their historical average. The phenomenon increases activity in the Pacific while curtailing conditions favorable to storm development in the Atlantic basin, which remains quiet with less than three months to go in this year’s hurricane season. Conversely, it promotes increased activity in the Pacific, where the 2026 El Niño remains one of the strongest on record.
Hurricane Polo is the 18th named storm and seventh hurricane of the 2026 Pacific season, which runs from 15 May until 30 November. In contrast, the Atlantic basin, which has a six‑month season from June until November, has seen only six named tropical storms and no hurricanes so far. It is the first time in 112 years that no Atlantic hurricanes have formed by 21 September, and 2026 could join 1907 and 1914 as the only years without one being recorded.
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