Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico's Pacific coast as landfall expected Monday

Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico's Pacific coast with landfall expected tonight

Hurricane Nolo moving away from Hawaii, but could still bring torrential rain

Hurricane Polo, which has weakened to a Category 3 storm, is expected to make landfall on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur on Monday night, forecasters said, bringing sustained winds of 100 to 130 kilometres per hour and heavy rain to the popular tourist destination.

As of Sunday evening, the hurricane was about 320 kilometres off the Baja California coast, moving north-northwest at 19 km/h with sustained winds of 200 km/h, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo threatened parts of Hawaii with torrential rain, even as the storm edged further away from the state's islands.

Private forecaster AccuWeather said Polo is expected to gradually weaken before making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, but could still topple trees and power lines and inflict structural damage.

Heavy rain, high surf and strong winds have already prompted evacuations, port closures and school cancellations along Mexico's Pacific coast.

Two minors died and their parents remain missing after their home was swept downstream in the state of Jalisco, on the country's Pacific coast, according to the state Civil Protection and Fire Department.

In the resort city of San José del Cabo, authorities restricted access to beaches as the storm churned up large waves and dangerous surf.

Polo is forecast to dump 10 to 20 centimetres of rain across Baja California, with maximum amounts of 30 centimetres across Baja California Sur, raising the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, before crossing the Gulf of California and moving into the northern states of Sonora and Chihuahua.

The rainfall could produce "life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain," the U.S. National Hurricane Center warned.

Mexico's Navy and Defence ministries have deployed around 7,000 personnel to Baja California Sur and opened 169 facilities for use as temporary shelters.

Floods and mudslides still a risk in Hawaii

Forecasters said Nolo's outer bands could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island possibly getting up to 50 centimetres of rain. Heavy rain also was expected on the other islands.

More than 120 National Guard members were activated, part of roughly 400 statewide after the governor issued an emergency proclamation. U.S. President Donald Trump recently approved an emergency declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to co-ordinate assistance and provide funding support.

Hawaii's residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala , which produced heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.

With files from The Associated Press