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Hurricane Rachel Strengthens Off Mexico As Polo Remnants Flood Central U.S.
Hurricane Rachel strengthened into a major Category 3 storm about 235 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California as remnants of Hurricane Polo dumped record and near-record rainfall across the central United States, triggering widespread flooding and hundreds of water rescues.[1]
The Polo remnants produced a record single-day total of 6.1 inches in Lincoln, Nebraska, and dumped 4.7 inches in Omaha, where fire officials reported about 80 water rescues in a three-hour span.[1] More than 30 million people from Arizona to Iowa were placed under flash-flood watches as the system moved inland, and emergency crews reported overtopped dams, expanding evacuation orders in New Mexico, and scattered outages and street flooding across the Plains and Southwest.[2][3]
On Tuesday night, September 22, 2026, Hurricane Polo rapidly intensified to an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 with roughly 165 mph winds while centered about 210 miles south of Zihuatanejo.[4] Forecasters initially said Polo was expected to remain mostly offshore while skirting Mexico's southwestern coast, but warned of heavy rain, landslides and life-threatening flooding that prompted port closures, suspended classes and U.S. Embassy alerts.[5] Polo later made landfall in Baja California Sur as a Category 2 on September 29, weakened as it crossed the Gulf of California, and authorities reported no confirmed deaths and about 700 people in shelters after the strike.[6]
Early coverage emphasized Polo staying offshore and threatening mainly coastal Mexico, but reporting shifted as its remnants raced northeast and produced severe inland flooding across the Southwest and Central Plains, a change highlighted by CBS and NPR updates on expanding evacuations and dam overtopping.[5][2][3]
Show source details & analysis (12 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- As of Tuesday night, September 22, 2026, Hurricane Polo had rapidly intensified to an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 with maximum sustained winds around 165 mph and was nearly stationary roughly 210 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, with hurricane‑force winds extending about 40 miles and tropical‑storm‑force winds up to 105 miles.
- The National Hurricane Center forecast called for Polo to remain mostly offshore while skirting Mexico’s southwestern coast — expected to turn northwest then west‑northwest — but forecasters warned of heavy rain (about 3–6 inches in Guerrero and Michoacán, lesser amounts elsewhere) and heightened risks of flash flooding and landslides in coastal and mountainous areas.
- On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Mexican authorities took precautions — including port closures, suspended classes, cleared beaches, evacuations and shelters with thousands of military and Red Cross personnel deployed — and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a warning urging U.S. citizens to avoid water and beaches because of life‑threatening flooding, mudslides and hazardous surf even if the storm did not make landfall.
- Hurricane Polo made landfall early Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in Baja California Sur as a Category 2 (about 110 mph); by that morning it had weakened to Category 1 while moving northeast across the Gulf of California, and Mexican authorities reported no confirmed deaths and roughly 700 people in shelters.
- The National Hurricane Center and U.S. forecasters said on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Polo’s remnants were expected to cross Baja California Sur, make a second landfall in Sonora, then move into the U.S. Southwest and Central Plains — approaching El Paso with winds near 35 mph — prompting flash‑flood watches from Phoenix to Des Moines and putting more than 30 million people from Arizona to Iowa at risk of flash flooding.
- Remnants and tropical Pacific moisture from Polo produced widespread flooding from September 29–30, 2026: New Mexico saw overtopped dams and expanding evacuation orders, Arizona and Utah reported multiple helicopter and water rescues, and central states recorded exceptional totals (including a record single‑day 6.1 inches in Lincoln, Nebraska) with roughly 80 water rescues reported in Omaha and extensive street/neighborhood flooding and outages.
- A separate Pacific system, Hurricane Rachel, formed hundreds of miles off Mexico and by September 30, 2026 forecasters said it had about 85 mph winds and was expected to rapidly strengthen and turn westward away from mainland Mexico; by the evening of October 1, 2026 Rachel was upgraded to a Category 3 with 120 mph winds about 235 miles south of Baja California, prompting Mexican alerts, school closures in parts of Jalisco and coastal cautions.
- Scientists and forecasters linked Polo’s rapid intensification and the season’s above‑average Pacific activity to El Niño — warmer Pacific waters and favorable wind patterns — and noted that El Niño is simultaneously suppressing Atlantic hurricane development this season.
📰 Source Timeline (12)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
October 02, 2026
3:55 PM
LIVE MAP: Track the path of Hurricane Rachel
New information:
- As of Thursday evening, October 1, 2026, Hurricane Rachel was upgraded to a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, located about 235 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California and moving west-northwest at 3 mph.
- On Wednesday night, September 30, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico warned U.S. citizens in Cabo San Lucas of beach and port closures and deadly rip currents due to Hurricane Rachel.
- Mexican authorities remained on alert Thursday, October 1, 2026, for very heavy rain, landslides, rising river levels, and flooding risks in Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Jalisco.
- Storm remnants from the Pacific system produced record and near-record rainfall in the central United States on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, including 6.1 inches in Lincoln, Nebraska, the wettest day on record there, and 4.7 inches in Omaha.
- Omaha fire officials reported about 80 water rescues over a three-hour period ending early Thursday, October 1, 2026, with some floodwaters reaching depths of 8 feet.
- San Antonio, Texas, was under a flash-flood warning through Thursday evening, October 1, 2026, and more than 19,000 customers across Texas were without power Thursday afternoon.
- Flood watches remained in effect Thursday afternoon, October 1, 2026, for parts of Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa as storm remnants continued to cause street and neighborhood flooding and water rescues.
- In Chicago, a wastewater and stormwater utility on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, urged residents to conserve water use to reduce flooding and backup risks, asking people to limit use of sinks, showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, and washing machines.
- Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued an emergency proclamation on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, authorizing state resources to assist local first responders in communities hit by the storms.
- The article notes that Tropical Storm Nolo was continuing a northwest approach away from Hawaii on Thursday, October 1, 2026, with the National Weather Service warning it could strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend.
September 30, 2026
9:51 PM
Tropical Pacific moisture drenches central U.S. as another Pacific hurricane forms
New information:
- On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, tropical moisture tied to Pacific systems, including remnants of Hurricane Polo, produced up to about 2 inches of rain from Colorado across the Great Plains to Iowa, with some higher local totals.
- A storm in Amarillo, Texas, on Tuesday night, September 29, 2026, flooded streets, spawned a tornado and produced storm totals above 3.5 inches of rain.
- In southern New Mexico, ongoing rain has left standing water near homes and in fields, with National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Lundeen reporting water overtopping at least one minor dam and growers warning that red chile crops in flooded fields are likely ruined.
- Acting New Mexico Gov. Howie Morales declared a state of emergency, making $3.75 million available through local governments for temporary housing, healthcare, food and transportation for affected residents.
- The article reports that the Rio Grande, which had been dry through a long stretch of New Mexico due to drought, is now overflowing in places because of the recent rains.
- Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say Hurricane Rachel formed hundreds of miles off Mexico, had maximum sustained winds around 85 mph on September 30, 2026, is expected to rapidly strengthen into a major hurricane, and is forecast to turn westward away from mainland Mexico and south of Baja California.
- Mexican authorities in Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco remain on alert for Rachel, with schools closed in 30 Jalisco municipalities and warnings of isolated rainfall totals up to 12 inches and heavy surf along portions of the Pacific coast, although coastal watches and warnings have been discontinued.
- The article also notes that Tropical Storm Nolo, formerly a hurricane, is now in the central Pacific with 50 mph winds and continues to generate dangerous conditions for parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument after drenching Hawaii’s Big Island over the prior weekend.
6:16 AM
Hurricane Polo's remnants bringing more rain to flood-struck U.S. Southwest
New information:
- On Tuesday evening, September 29, 2026, the New Mexico Department of Transportation reported flooded roads and debris on highways statewide as Polo's remnants moved inland from northwestern Mexico.
- Evacuation orders in south central New Mexico expanded beyond Rincon, Salem and Garfield to include Hatch and Placitas due to concern about a potential dam failure along the Rio Grande.
- The article details multiple water rescues: an Arizona helicopter rescue of a person stranded on an overturned vehicle west of Phoenix; a helicopter rescue of three people in Heaps Canyon inside Zion National Park in Utah; and a truck swept away in a wash north of Phoenix, with the driver escaping safely.
- The National Weather Service now expects the flood risk to shift later in the week into parts of the central U.S., with heavy rain forecast for Texas and Oklahoma beginning Tuesday night, September 29, 2026.
- The Bureau of Land Management in Arizona reported significant flooding and damage to access roads in a national conservation area and a sand dunes recreation area in southeastern Arizona.
- Localized impact details include Orderville, Utah, where floodwaters from the East Fork of the Virgin River swept around homes and carried away a camper, snowmobile trailer and other property.
September 29, 2026
11:18 PM
Flash flooding in Southwest, overwhelming New Mexico dam on brink of failing
New information:
- On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, CBS reported that heavy rain from the same system has already drenched parts of the Southwest and led to water spilling over a 20‑foot dam in New Mexico.
- Emergency crews in New Mexico are urging evacuations because the overtopped dam is described as on the brink of failing.
- CBS said nearly a third of the United States is at risk of flash floods in the coming hours due to the ongoing heavy rain tied to the storm system.
9:18 PM
Tropical Storm Polo will impact the U.S. after slamming Mexico. See its path.
New information:
- On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the National Hurricane Center said former Hurricane Polo, now a tropical storm, was centered about 275 miles southwest of El Paso with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
- Polo was forecast to weaken to about 35 mph winds as it nears El Paso on the morning of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, continuing northeast into the Central Plains.
- More than 30 million people from Arizona to Iowa are at risk for flash floods, with flash flood watches in effect from Phoenix, Arizona, to Des Moines, Iowa.
- The National Weather Service Prediction Center warned of a significant flash-flood threat across the Four Corners region eastward into the Central Plains, with local rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour and some Texas locations potentially exceeding 7 inches of rain.
- CBS News meteorologist Rob Marciano highlighted Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a particular concern, saying the city could see about 2 inches of rain that may saturate normally arid ground.
- The article specifies that parts of Texas, including Dallas and the I-35 corridor, could see rain into Thursday, October 1, 2026.
5:14 PM
Hurricane Polo makes landfall in Baja California, toppling trees and flooding coastal communities
New information:
- Hurricane Polo made landfall early Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in Baja California Sur just south of Las Barrancas, about 80 miles north of Cabo San Lazaro and 70 miles south of Mulege, as a Category 2 storm with 110 mph sustained winds.
- By 8 a.m. local time on September 29, Polo had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph while moving northeast at about 17 mph across the Gulf of California.
- Mexican authorities reported no loss of life or serious damage from Polo’s landfall, with roughly 700 people remaining in shelters on Tuesday but expected to return home.
- Mexico’s government discontinued several hurricane and tropical storm warnings along the Pacific coast on Tuesday as Polo moved inland.
- Forecasters reiterated that Pacific storm activity is above average this season in a pattern consistent with El Niño, and said Polo is expected to bring inches of rain to parts of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas, heightening flash-flood risk in arid canyons and rocky terrain.
2:45 PM
Maps show how Hurricane Polo will impact the U.S. after slamming Mexico
New information:
- On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Polo’s remnants are expected to move into the southwestern United States after crossing Baja California Sur and making a second landfall in Sonora, Mexico.
- The storm’s core is forecast to cross the Gulf of California, make landfall in Sonora late Tuesday morning, and then approach El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday morning with winds near 35 mph, weakening as it travels across the Southwest.
- The article reports that more than 30 million people from Arizona to Iowa could face flash‑flood risk on Tuesday, with flash‑flood watches in effect from Phoenix, Arizona, to Des Moines, Iowa, and more than 14 million Americans at risk of major flooding.
- Some locations may receive rainfall rates up to two inches per hour, and parts of Texas, including around Dallas, could see more than seven inches of rain, with rain lasting into Thursday along portions of the I‑35 corridor.
- The piece notes that heavy rain has already flooded some roads in southern New Mexico, temporarily trapping drivers in vehicles until waters receded, and highlights particular concern for Albuquerque, which is forecast to receive about two inches of rain.
September 24, 2026
3:19 AM
Hurricane Polo fuels fears of landslides in Mexico as Nolo closes in on Hawaii
New information:
- On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Polo had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph about 130 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
- Forecasters warned Polo is expected to skirt Mexico's Guerrero state and drop 4-6 inches of rain through Thursday, with life-threatening flooding and mudslide risks in rural, mountainous Guerrero.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Polo is not expected to make landfall, while federal authorities ordered some evacuations, opened shelters, and deployed thousands of military and Red Cross personnel.
- Restaurant owner Concepción López Villegas in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, described preparing her seaside business for large waves and potential destruction from Polo's surf and rain.
- As of Wednesday afternoon, Tropical Storm Nolo was about 295 miles south of South Point, Hawaii, and the National Weather Service said it is likely to strengthen into a major hurricane before nearing the Big Island on Friday or Saturday.
- National Weather Service meteorologist John Bravender said 20-30 inches of rain could fall on southeastern parts of Hawaii's Big Island through Saturday, warning of possible catastrophic flash flooding on already saturated ground.
September 23, 2026
4:11 PM
Polo off Mexican coast is among 'the strongest storms ever'
New information:
- As of Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Polo was about 165 miles south of Zihuatanejo and 320 miles southeast of Manzanillo, moving slowly north with 150 mph sustained winds, a Category 4 intensity after earlier reaching Category 5.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said experts indicate Polo is not likely to make landfall, though tropical-storm conditions are expected in Guerrero, Michoacan and Colima from Wednesday into Thursday.
- The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a weather alert on September 23 instructing U.S. citizens to avoid water and beaches and warning of life-threatening flooding, mudslides, rip currents and rogue waves even without landfall.
- Scientists highlighted that Polo became the Pacific season's third Category 5 hurricane after Genevieve and Lowell, with NHC data comparing its peak winds to 2015's Hurricane Patricia.
- Researchers Philip Klotzbach and Kristen L. Corbosiero linked Polo's rapid, "truly remarkable" 24-hour intensification and exceptional strength to El Nino-warmed Pacific waters and favorable wind patterns, while noting El Nino is simultaneously suppressing Atlantic hurricanes and delaying the first Atlantic hurricane of the season.
- A second system, Odalys, strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane roughly 1,295 miles off Baja California's southern tip on September 23, moving east-northeast at 9 mph with 75 mph winds but not threatening land.
6:13 AM
Category 5 Hurricane Polo is 'one of the strongest storms ever'
New information:
- As of Tuesday night, September 22, 2026, Hurricane Polo had maximum sustained winds of 165 mph and was nearly stationary about 210 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
- The storm is described by the National Hurricane Center as an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 hurricane, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 40 miles from its center and tropical-storm-force winds up to 105 miles out.
- University at Albany atmospheric scientist Kristen L. Corbosiero said Polo is "one of the strongest storms ever in the (Pacific) Basin," with National Hurricane Center data comparing its intensity only to a few recent Pacific hurricanes, notably 2015's Hurricane Patricia.
- Mexico’s navy has shut down ports in the states of Guerrero and Michoacán, Mexican authorities have suspended classes in multiple areas, and beaches along the Pacific coast have been cleared as residents prepare for possible impacts.
- The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a weather alert on Tuesday, instructing U.S. citizens to avoid water and beaches and warning of life-threatening flooding, mudslides, and hazardous ocean conditions even if the storm does not make landfall.
- Forecasts call for about 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) of rain in Guerrero and Michoacán, with lesser amounts in coastal Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco, raising risks of flash flooding and mudslides.
- Scientists and the National Hurricane Center highlighted Polo’s rapid intensification over the prior 24 hours as "truly remarkable" and linked it to El Niño–driven favorable conditions for rapid strengthening.
September 22, 2026
2:18 PM
Live Map: Track the path of Hurricane Polo
New information:
- On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the National Hurricane Center forecast that Hurricane Polo, now a Category 5, is expected to remain offshore while skirting the southwestern Mexican coast for several days.
- The advisory said Polo was moving east at 6 mph but is forecast to make a sharp turn to the northwest and then west-northwest, keeping the core of the storm off land.
- Polo was centered about 360 miles (579 kilometers) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico, as of the Tuesday advisory.
- Forecasters said heavy rain with potential for flooding and landslides is expected in coastal Guerrero and Michoacán through Thursday, with smaller rainfall amounts possible in coastal Oaxaca, Colima, and Jalisco.
- The article notes that farther west in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Odalys is expected to become a hurricane by midweek, while in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Fay has weakened to 40 mph southwest of the Azores and is forecast to become a remnant low later Tuesday.
- The piece adds basin-wide context that no Atlantic hurricanes have formed yet this season and that strong El Niño conditions are suppressing Atlantic tropical cyclone development.