Hurricane Polo Tracker
The track shows Polo's path and the forecast cone.
This storm is no longer active
Polo observation history
| Date, time | Wind Speed | Pressure | Latitude | Longitude | Movement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 km/h | 987 mb | 28.0 | -110.6 | 26 km/h NE | Tropical Storm | |
| 120 km/h | 981 mb | 26.9 | -111.5 | 23 km/h NE | Category 1 Hurricane | |
| 167 km/h | 967 mb | 25.8 | -112.2 | 15 km/h NE | Category 2 Hurricane | |
| 185 km/h | 963 mb | 25.5 | -112.8 | 19 km/h NE | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 185 km/h | 963 mb | 24.6 | -113.4 | 14 km/h N | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 185 km/h | 958 mb | 23.9 | -113.7 | 14 km/h N | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 194 km/h | 955 mb | 23.2 | -114.0 | 15 km/h N | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 204 km/h | 951 mb | 22.4 | -114.1 | 19 km/h N | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 204 km/h | 951 mb | 21.4 | -114.0 | 15 km/h N | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 194 km/h | 952 mb | 20.8 | -113.7 | 19 km/h N | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 194 km/h | 952 mb | 19.8 | -113.4 | 17 km/h NW | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 204 km/h | 946 mb | 19.0 | -112.9 | 18 km/h NW | Category 3 Hurricane | |
| 232 km/h | 938 mb | 18.3 | -112.2 | 18 km/h NW | Category 4 Hurricane | |
| 259 km/h | 922 mb | 17.7 | -111.4 | 17 km/h W | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 278 km/h | 912 mb | 17.5 | -110.5 | 15 km/h W | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 278 km/h | 911 mb | 17.2 | -109.7 | 16 km/h W | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 278 km/h | 914 mb | 17.1 | -108.8 | 14 km/h W | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 287 km/h | 908 mb | 17.1 | -108.0 | 18 km/h W | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 250 km/h | 929 mb | 17.1 | -107.0 | 16 km/h W | Category 4 Hurricane | |
| 241 km/h | 938 mb | 17.1 | -106.1 | 22 km/h W | Category 4 Hurricane | |
| 241 km/h | 938 mb | 16.9 | -104.9 | 18 km/h W | Category 4 Hurricane | |
| 250 km/h | 927 mb | 16.7 | -103.9 | 17 km/h W | Category 4 Hurricane | |
| 259 km/h | 923 mb | 16.4 | -103.0 | 17 km/h NW | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 259 km/h | 923 mb | 15.8 | -102.3 | 7 km/h NW | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 232 km/h | 931 mb | 15.5 | -102.1 | 11 km/h NW | Category 4 Hurricane | |
| 241 km/h | 925 mb | 15.2 | -101.5 | 8 km/h NW | Category 4 Hurricane | |
| 259 km/h | 915 mb | 14.8 | -101.3 | 4 km/h NE | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 269 km/h | 905 mb | 14.6 | -101.4 | 2 km/h E | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 287 km/h | 892 mb | 14.6 | -101.5 | 2 km/h E | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 259 km/h | 926 mb | 14.7 | -101.6 | 7 km/h E | Category 5 Hurricane | |
| 222 km/h | 945 mb | 14.7 | -102.0 | 12 km/h SE | Category 4 Hurricane | |
| 167 km/h | 967 mb | 15.1 | -102.5 | 9 km/h E | Category 2 Hurricane | |
| 130 km/h | 978 mb | 15.2 | -103.0 | 11 km/h E | Category 1 Hurricane | |
| 93 km/h | 1,000 mb | 15.5 | -103.6 | 9 km/h E | Tropical Storm | |
| 74 km/h | 1,003 mb | 15.5 | -104.1 | 15 km/h NE | Tropical Storm | |
| 65 km/h | 1,004 mb | 15.1 | -104.8 | 12 km/h NE | Tropical Storm | |
| 56 km/h | 1,007 mb | 14.5 | -105.1 | 12 km/h NE | Tropical Depression | |
| 56 km/h | 1,007 mb | 14.0 | -105.5 | 12 km/h NE | Tropical Depression | |
| 56 km/h | 1,007 mb | 13.4 | -105.8 | 17 km/h NE | Tropical Depression | |
| 46 km/h | 1,007 mb | 12.6 | -106.3 | 27 km/h N | Tropical Depression | |
| 46 km/h | 1,008 mb | 11.2 | -106.0 | 17 km/h N | Tropical Depression | |
| 46 km/h | 1,008 mb | 10.3 | -106.0 | 17 km/h N | Tropical Depression | |
| 37 km/h | 1,009 mb | 9.4 | -105.9 | 19 km/h N | Tropical Depression | |
| 37 km/h | 1,009 mb | 8.4 | -105.7 | 14 km/h NW | Tropical Depression | |
| 37 km/h | 1,010 mb | 7.7 | -105.4 | 10 km/h NW | Tropical Depression | |
| 37 km/h | 1,010 mb | 7.3 | -105.0 | 13 km/h W | Tropical Depression | |
| 37 km/h | 1,010 mb | 7.1 | -104.3 | 8 km/h W | Tropical Depression | |
| 37 km/h | 1,010 mb | 7.0 | -103.9 | 11 km/h W | Tropical Depression | |
| 37 km/h | 1,010 mb | 7.0 | -103.3 | 11 km/h W | Tropical Depression | |
| 37 km/h | 1,010 mb | 7.0 | -102.7 | 0 km/h N | Tropical Depression |
What's happening now
Polo’s final reading placed the former tropical storm over Empalme, Sonora, Mexico, moving northeast at 26 km/h. The reading on 29 September at 18:00 UTC recorded sustained winds of 111 km/h, gusts of 128 km/h, and central pressure of 987 mb. Polo weakened from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm between the readings at 12:00 and 18:00 UTC on 29 September. Polo reached its strongest recorded intensity on 22 September at 18:00 UTC, with winds of 287 km/h, gusts of 330 km/h, and pressure of 892 mb. Polo’s recorded track began as a tropical depression on 17 September and ended after 50 readings on 29 September.
Areas under watch or warning
No active watches or warnings.
How Polo developed
September 17 — Polo begins as a tropical depression
The first reading identifies Polo as a tropical depression at 7°N, 102.7°W, with 37 km/h winds, 43 km/h gusts and pressure of 1,010 mb. Polo was stationary at that point. Six hours later, the storm began moving west at 11 km/h while its wind and pressure remained unchanged.
September 21 — Polo becomes a tropical storm
Polo became a tropical storm at 00:00 UTC on September 21, with winds of 65 km/h, gusts of 75 km/h and pressure of 1,004 mb. The storm was at 15.1°N, 104.8°W, moving northeast at 12 km/h. Its wind had increased from 37 km/h at the start of the record.
September 21 — Polo reaches hurricane strength
At 18:00 UTC, Polo became a category 1 hurricane with 130 km/h winds, 150 km/h gusts and pressure of 978 mb. The storm was 313 km south-southwest of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico, moving east-southeast at 11 km/h. Pressure had fallen 26 mb since the previous reading.
September 22 — Polo reaches category 2
Polo reached category 2 at 00:00 UTC on September 22, recording 167 km/h winds, 192 km/h gusts and pressure of 967 mb. The storm was 339 km southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, moving east-southeast at 9 km/h. The pressure was 11 mb lower than six hours earlier.
September 22 — Polo reaches category 4
At 06:00 UTC, Polo reached category 4 with 222 km/h winds, 255 km/h gusts and pressure of 945 mb. The storm was 328 km southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, moving southeast at 12 km/h. The wind increased by 55 km/h in six hours, while pressure fell 22 mb.
September 22 — Polo reaches category 5
Polo reached category 5 at 12:00 UTC, the strongest point in the readings. The storm recorded 259 km/h winds, 298 km/h gusts and pressure of 926 mb, at 14.7°N, 101.6°W. Polo was 300 km southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, moving east at 7 km/h.
23 September — Polo weakens to category 4
At 12:00 UTC on 23 September, Polo is a category 4 hurricane with 241 km/h winds, 277 km/h gusts and 925 mb pressure. The previous reading recorded category 5 strength, 259 km/h winds, 298 km/h gusts and 915 mb pressure. The latest position is 250 km south-west of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.
24 September — Polo strengthens to category 5
Polo returned to category 5 strength at 00:00 UTC on 24 September. The reading recorded maximum sustained wind of 259 km/h, gusts of 298 km/h and pressure of 923 mb. Polo was 220 km SSW of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico, moving towards 327° at 7 km/h.
24 September — Polo weakens to category 4
At 12:00 UTC, Polo is a category 4 hurricane with winds of 250 km/h, down from 259 km/h at the previous reading. Gusts are 288 km/h, and pressure is 927 mb. Polo is 229 km SW of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, Mexico, moving at 17 km/h on a heading of 289°.
25 September — Polo strengthens to category 5
At 12:00 UTC, Polo reaches category 5 strength again at 17.1°N, 108.0°W. Maximum sustained winds increase from 250 km/h to 287 km/h, gusts reach 330 km/h, and pressure falls from 929 mb to 908 mb. The storm is moving west at 18 km/h over open water.
September 26 — Polo weakens to category 4
At 18:00 UTC, Polo was a category 4 hurricane with 232 km/h winds, 267 km/h gusts, and 938 mb pressure. The previous reading recorded Polo as a category 5 hurricane with 259 km/h winds, 298 km/h gusts, and 922 mb pressure. Polo was 132 km off Mexico and moving at 18 km/h.
27 September — Polo weakens to Category 3
Polo's latest reading shows a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 204 km/h, down from 232 km/h six hours earlier. Gusts are 235 km/h and pressure is 946 mb. The centre is 195 km off Mexico at 19°N, 112.9°W, moving at 18 km/h on a bearing of 317°.
29 September — Polo weakens to category 2
Polo weakened from category 3 to category 2 by 29 September at 06:00 UTC. Maximum sustained winds decreased from 185 km/h to 167 km/h, gusts reached 192 km/h, and central pressure rose from 963 mb to 967 mb. The reading placed Polo 101 km north-north-west of Ciudad Constitución, moving north-east at 15 km/h.
29 September — Polo weakens to category 1
At 12:00 UTC on 29 September, Polo weakened from category 2 to category 1. The reading recorded 120 km/h winds, 138 km/h gusts and 981 mb pressure. Polo was 128 km south-south-west of Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, in the Gulf of California, moving at 23 km/h on a 30° heading.
September 29 — Polo weakens to a tropical storm
At 18:00 UTC, Polo's classification changes from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm. The reading records 111 km/h winds, 128 km/h gusts, and 987 mb pressure over Empalme, Sonora, Mexico. Polo is moving at 26 km/h on a 39° heading.
How Polo is behaving
Polo's readings show a marked fall in central pressure, from 1,010 mb on September 17 to 926 mb on September 22. Central pressure is the pressure near the storm's centre; a falling value in this sequence accompanied a rise in sustained wind from 37 km/h to 259 km/h. The largest six-hour pressure drops came during the final 24 hours, including a 22 mb fall before Polo reached category 4 and a 19 mb fall before category 5. The wind increased at each of those stages, showing a tightly aligned strengthening sequence in the available observations.
Polo's movement changed substantially across the record. The storm first moved west, then turned towards the north and northeast, reaching a northeast heading at 27 km/h on September 20. The track later turned eastwards, with headings from east-southeast to southeast before the latest eastward reading at 7 km/h. That final speed is slower than the 12 km/h recorded six hours earlier. The observations support a storm that intensified while its direction and forward speed changed; they do not identify the environmental causes.
How to track Polo
Turn on the tropical storm tracks layer in RainViewer to see Polo's recorded centre positions connected across time. Each point is coloured by Polo's classification at that moment: cyan for a tropical depression, blue for a tropical storm, yellow for category 1, amber for category 2, orange for category 3, red for category 4 and dark red for category 5. Polo's latest point is dark red. The points show where the centre was, not weather or effects at every named place.
For Polo, compare the latest points near Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, with the earlier points near Zihuatanejo and Lazaro Cardenas. Pay attention to the changes in category, pressure and movement speed recorded along the path. RainViewer can help you follow the plotted observations, while Mexico's national weather service is the source for official warnings. Open RainViewer on Google Play or the App Store to follow Polo's track.
Where Polo fits in eastern Pacific hurricane history
September falls within the eastern Pacific hurricane season, when tropical systems commonly develop over warm ocean water and can draw energy from moist air and favourable upper-level winds. Polo's first reading places the storm at 7°N, 102.7°W, and the record shows it developing from a tropical depression into a category 5 hurricane over five days. The readings establish the timing and position of that development, but they do not measure the ocean or atmospheric conditions around Polo.
Polo's category 5 peak places it alongside notable eastern Pacific storms such as Patricia in 2015 and Otis in 2023. Patricia reached category 5 before making landfall in Mexico. Otis also reached category 5 before making landfall in Mexico. Those comparisons describe past storms and do not establish Polo's effects or future path.
Storm FAQ
What does Polo's 926 mb pressure mean?
The 926 mb value is the central pressure recorded for Polo at the latest observation. In this record, the lower pressure appeared alongside much stronger winds than Polo had at the beginning of the observations.
Does 300 km southwest of Acapulco mean Acapulco had storm weather?
No. The 300 km distance describes the location of Polo's centre relative to Acapulco at that reading. It does not establish weather, damage or warnings in Acapulco.
Why are hurricanes given names such as Polo?
Names give each tropical cyclone a short, distinct identifier that makes it easier to discuss the same storm across observations and official information. Polo is the name attached to this storm in the 2026 eastern Pacific season.
What is the difference between sustained wind and a gust?
Sustained wind is the storm's reported ongoing wind speed, while a gust is a brief higher-speed burst. Polo's latest reading lists 259 km/h sustained wind and gusts of 298 km/h.
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