**Hurricane Polo Lashes Mexico as Nolo Strengthens Near Hawaii**
*September 25, 2026*
Two significant storms are currently impacting opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, with Hurricane Polo wreaking havoc along Mexico's southwestern coast and Hurricane Nolo intensifying as it approaches Hawaii.
Hurricane Polo has been fluctuating between Category 4 and 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, indicating its immense strength. As of Thursday, September 24, 2026, the storm was moving along the coast of Mexico, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicting that it could regain Category 5 status by Friday. The storm has already caused severe damage in the port city of Lazaro Cardenas, located in the state of Michoacan. Reports indicate that seawater inundated homes, leaving debris scattered across the streets. Local restaurant owner Alicia Contreras described the devastation, stating, “This is huge because we have no other source of income. Now we’re just surviving.”
In response to the storm, Mexican authorities have mobilized 15,000 security personnel along the affected coastline, suspended schools, and opened shelters for residents in high-risk areas. However, officials have not disclosed the number of individuals evacuated from these regions. The states of Guerrero and Michoacan are particularly vulnerable, with their long coastlines dotted with small ports, tourist towns, and fishing villages, many of which are impoverished communities that often lack adequate support during natural disasters.
On the other side of the Pacific, Hurricane Nolo was upgraded to hurricane status on Thursday night. The NHC forecasts that Nolo will continue to strengthen as it turns towards Hawaii's Big Island. The island could be facing significant rainfall, with predictions of 15 to 30 inches (38 to 76 cm) possible through Saturday, and some areas may experience even higher totals. The southeastern part of the Big Island, which was recently affected by Hurricane Lala in August, remains particularly at risk due to saturated ground conditions.
John Bravender, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, highlighted the ongoing threats, noting that several communities in the area had already been isolated and flooded, with roads washed out. “It’s that same area that is most under threat,” he said. Hawaii has faced a challenging year, having already experienced major flooding in the spring, an earthquake, and two other hurricanes since mid-August. Bravender remarked, “In my 20 years of experience here, I’ve never seen three hurricane watches for the islands in the same year.”
In light of the impending storm, Hawaii's governor has issued an emergency proclamation, activating more than 230 members of the state’s National Guard. Schools across the islands have been closed for the remainder of the week as a precautionary measure. Hawaiian Electric, the state's primary power utility, has shifted its focus from restoring electricity on Kauai—following Hurricane Lowell earlier this month—to preparing for Nolo’s impact on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.
In addition to Polo and Nolo, two other storms are currently being monitored: Hurricane Odalys in the Pacific and Tropical Storm Fay in the North Atlantic. Forecasters are also keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Gonzalo, which is projected to approach Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, on Friday.
The recent surge in storm activity is occurring amid the El Niño phenomenon, a climate pattern that typically warms parts of the Pacific Ocean and enhances tropical cyclone activity, while simultaneously suppressing the Atlantic hurricane season. As the situation develops, residents and authorities in both Mexico and Hawaii are bracing for the potential impacts of these powerful storms.