The remnants of former Hurricane Polo are set to bring heavy rain and potential flooding to parts of the southern and midwestern United States after moving across Mexico. Initially a hurricane, Polo was downgraded to a tropical storm before dissipating over northwest Mexico. Despite this, its remnants pose a risk of flash flooding to approximately 100 million people from Arizona to Iowa. Forecasters predict 4 to 6 inches of rain in the Southern Plains and Midwest, with some areas in Texas possibly receiving up to 9 inches. Heavy rains have already caused flooding in southern New Mexico, threatening the McLeod Dam and prompting evacuation orders. Polo initially made landfall in Mexico’s Baja California Sur and Sonora before moving toward the U.S. Flood watches extend over 1,200 miles across the central U.S., affecting states like Arizona, Colorado, and Texas, with major cities such as Austin, Dallas, and Chicago potentially impacted.
QUESTION: How might communities better prepare for the impacts of severe weather events like the remnants of Hurricane Polo?
Maps show where floods threaten 100 million in U.S. after Polo slams Mexico
