# Hurricane Polo intensifies into rare Category 5 storm off Mexico

https://mins.news/en/item/70323

- BBC News, 2026-09-23 02:54 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckddvlrlr5qeo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

> Hurricane Polo briefly reached Category 5 strength before weakening to Category 4, though forecasters still described it as very powerful. It is expected to avoid a direct landfall but could bring torrential rain, life-threatening flooding and mudslides to southwestern Mexico. Scientists say unusually warm waters linked to El Niño are fuelling the storm.

## Related coverage

- [Hurricane Polo churns off Mexico](https://mins.news/en/video/70460) — France 24 English, 2026-09-23
- [Hurricane Polo rapidly intensifies off Mexico, fueled by strong El Niño](https://mins.news/en/item/69503) — The Guardian, 2026-09-22
- [Hurricane Polo strengthens to Category 5 off Mexico’s Pacific coast](https://mins.news/en/item/68995) — Reuters, 2026-09-22