Issued at 800 AM MST Fri Sep 25 2026
645 WTPZ42 KNHC 251450 TCDEP2 Hurricane Polo Discussion Number 20 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP172026 800 AM MST Fri Sep 25 2026 After regaining Category 5 status overnight, the remarkable satellite presentation of Polo indicates the hurricane has continued to intensify. The eye has contracted and warmed over the past several hours, with temperatures above 20 deg C measured inside the eye. A thick, solid ring of deep convection surrounds the center, with cloud tops as cold as -80 to -85 deg C. There were no indications of a concentric eyewall structure in 0905 UTC AMSR3 passive microwave imagery. The latest UW-CIMSS ADT estimates and a T7.5 Dvorak classification from TAFB support an initial intensity of 155 kt. A NOAA research aircraft mission is scheduled to investigate Polo later today. Polo continues moving westward (270/10 kt) along the south side of a mid-level ridge that extends across northern Mexico. This weekend, a deep-layer trough approaching from the west is expected to erode the steering ridge. This will cause Polo to turn northwestward and northward as it moves around the western side of the ridge. By Monday, the increasing influence of the upper trough should turn Polo northeastward toward Baja California Sur and west-central Mexico. The global models and AI-based guidance are generally in good agreement on this track evolution. The updated NHC track forecast is adjusted slightly to the left of the previous one, and is also a bit slower to come into better agreement with the latest multi-model consensus. Overall, the NHC forecast remains on the faster and right side of the envelope, closer to HCCA and GDMI. Based on this prediction, watches could be required for portions of the Baja California Peninsula as early as Saturday. Based on the aforementioned AMSR3 data, an eyewall replacement cycle (ERC) does not appear imminent. Thus, further slight strengthening cannot be ruled out while Polo remains over very warm waters in a weaker shear environment. The vertical wind shear is expected to increase over the weekend, and because of this as well as the possibility of a future ERC, the NHC intensity forecast shows a weakening trend beginning on Saturday and continuing into next week. Regardless, Polo is predicted to approach Baja California Sur as a strong hurricane early next week, and interests there should closely monitor the latest forecast updates. The NHC forecast remains on the higher side of the intensity guidance, generally following HCCA. Once land interaction occurs with the Baja California Peninsula and mainland Mexico, more rapid weakening is anticipated. Distant moisture from Hurricane Polo and Odalys will be transported into the southwestern United States this weekend and early next week, and may indirectly contribute to a heavy rainfall and flash flood threat in the region. See products issued by the Weather Prediction Center for more information. Key Messages: 1. Polo is forecast to approach the Baja California Peninsula early next week as a hurricane. Interests there should closely monitor the latest updates and ensure that they have their preparedness plan in place. Watches could be required as early as Saturday for portions of the area. 2. Heavy rainfall associated with Polo may begin to impact Baja California Sur late Sunday into Monday. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 25/1500Z 17.1N 108.5W 155 KT 180 MPH 12H 26/0000Z 17.2N 109.8W 155 KT 180 MPH 24H 26/1200Z 17.8N 111.5W 140 KT 160 MPH 36H 27/0000Z 18.9N 112.7W 125 KT 145 MPH 48H 27/1200Z 20.4N 113.4W 110 KT 125 MPH 60H 28/0000Z 22.0N 113.7W 100 KT 115 MPH 72H 28/1200Z 23.8N 113.4W 95 KT 110 MPH 96H 29/1200Z 26.9N 110.8W 70 KT 80 MPH 120H 30/1200Z 30.4N 106.5W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/INLAND $$ Forecaster Reinhart
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