Daijiworld Media Network - Mexico City/Honolulu

Mexico City/Honolulu, Sep 25: Residents along Mexico’s western coast reinforced beachfront businesses with sandbags and evacuated vulnerable areas as Hurricane Polo threatened heavy rain and flooding, while Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui prepared for potentially life-threatening flooding from Hurricane Nolo.

Nolo became a hurricane in the Pacific on Thursday night and was expected to strengthen as it moved toward Hawaii’s Big Island, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Forecasters warned that the Big Island could receive 15 to 30 inches (38 to 76 cm) of rain, with higher totals possible through Saturday. Maui was also at risk of dangerous flooding.

In Mexico, Hurricane Polo brought heavy rain and high waves along the Pacific coast, with authorities warning of torrential flooding and landslides. In the port city of Lázaro Cárdenas, seawater swept into homes on Thursday, leaving wooden planks, furniture and debris scattered across streets.

Polo fluctuated between Category 4 and Category 5 strength and was expected to regain Category 5 intensity on Friday before weakening gradually on Friday night and Saturday, the hurricane center said. After moving offshore, the storm was expected to turn back toward the coast farther north on Saturday.

Mexican authorities opened shelters, cleared people from beaches and evacuated residents from high-risk areas. Around 15,000 security personnel were deployed along the affected coastline, while schools were suspended.

The states of Guerrero and Michoacán were identified as areas facing the greatest threat from Polo. Both states have long stretches of coastline with ports, tourist centres and fishing communities.

In Lázaro Cárdenas, residents and officials cleared debris from damaged structures and streets covered in mud after high waves hit the city. Local resident Alicia Contreras said her restaurant's walls and roof were badly damaged by waves reaching around 15 feet (4.5 metres).

In Hawaii, officials warned that Nolo could bring particularly heavy rainfall to the southeastern part of the Big Island, an area that was affected by Hurricane Lala in August and has remained wet following further rainfall.

John Bravender of the National Weather Service in Honolulu said some communities in the region had previously been isolated by flooding and suffered damage to roads. Hawaii Governor Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation, while more than 230 National Guard members were activated. Schools were closed for the remainder of the week.

Hawaiian Electric said crews assisting with power restoration in Kauai following Hurricane Lowell would return to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island to prepare for the approaching storm.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Odalys was located far from land, around 1,110 miles (1,785 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.

In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Fay re-formed on Thursday and was located nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 km) west-southwest of the Azores. Tropical Storm Gonzalo also formed late Thursday about 190 miles (306 km) southeast of the Cape Verde islands. The US hurricane center said Gonzalo could pass near or over parts of the islands on Friday.