Tropical Storm Polo Threatens to Impact Southern California

A tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean, rapidly intensifying into a dangerous hurricane, could affect Southern California with increased humidity, meteorologists predict. Tropical Storm Polo is expected to escalate into a significant hurricane as it nears the southwestern coast of Mexico. Heavy rainfall is expected, which may cause life-threatening floods and landslides in the area, according to a National Hurricane Center forecast.

Meteorologist Bryan Lewis from the National Weather Service in Oxnard stated that it remains uncertain, but Polo might bring tropical moisture into Southern California. This will depend on atmospheric patterns at higher levels. Previous storms, such as Hurricane Marie, have brought unusually warm and humid air to the region.

Polo represents the 16th named storm in the Eastern Pacific this year. Should Polo affect Southern California, any impact would not be felt until the end of the weekend at the earliest. Lewis mentioned that increased surf from a south swell could be the main effect, though its magnitude would depend on Polo’s trajectory.

He warned that “after almost an entire summer of southern swell after southern swell, there could be some issues for those vulnerable coastlines.” Earlier this year, high surf from Pacific tropical storms led several counties and towns to declare local emergencies due to coastal erosion. These areas include Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and Carlsbad.

The El Niño phenomenon usually causes an active hurricane season in the eastern Pacific, resulting in heavy winter rains in Southern California. This El Niño is expected to be the strongest in a generation. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency anticipating severe winter storms, which could bring high surf and storms to the state.