# Hurricane Polo downgraded but stays very powerful

> A major Pacific hurricane weakens from category 5 to 4 but threatens Mexico's coast with torrential rain and dangerous surf.
- Title: Hurricane Polo downgraded but stays very powerful · BBC News
- Summary: A major Pacific hurricane weakens from category 5 to 4 but threatens Mexico's coast with torrential rain and dangerous surf. Hurricane Polo, fuelled by…
- Keywords: hurricane polo, mexico, us national hurricane center, noaa, el niño, pacific ocean, category 4 hurricane, tropical storm warning, news, world, Hurricane, Polo
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckddvlrlr5qeo
- Published: 2026-09-23T02:54:56.912+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: hurricane polo, mexico, us national hurricane center, noaa, el niño, pacific ocean, category 4 hurricane, tropical storm warning, news, world
## Powerful storm downgraded off Mexico
Hurricane Polo, a major Pacific hurricane, was downgraded from category five to category four on Wednesday morning but remains very powerful.
## Wind speeds near one hundred eighty mph
A Hurricane Hunter aircraft operated by NOAA recorded sustained wind speeds near one hundred eighty miles per hour with stronger gusts on Tuesday.
## El Niño fuels record warm waters
The slow-moving storm is being fuelled by extremely warm ocean waters caused by El Niño. Sea surface temperatures on September nineteenth were three point zero five degrees Celsius above average, exceeding the previous record of three point zero two degrees from twenty fifteen.
## Severe flooding threatens Mexico's coast
Polo will drive torrential rainfall in south-western Mexico, with rainfall totals up to six inches forecast and eight inches possible in some areas. Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are expected, especially in steep terrain.
## Mexico's president warns residents
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Polo will not make direct landfall but warned residents along the Pacific coast to be vigilant. She highlighted Jalisco, Colima and Michoacan as being at risk.

> So far, the information we have is that (Polo) will not make a direct landfall on the coast.
## Storm could still strengthen
Data from Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated Polo could still strengthen because of what NOAA called a very conducive environment of extremely warm ocean waters. Forecasters said the storm was expected to fluctuate in intensity over the next few days.
## Key takeaway

Hurricane Polo, fuelled by record-warm ocean waters from El Niño, was downgraded to category four but remains extremely dangerous, threatening Mexico's south-western coast with severe flooding and mudslides.