Остатки урагана Поло вызвали внезапные наводнения на юго-западе США

Hurricane Polo remnants reach the U.S. Southwest

By Tuesday evening, the remnants of the storm reached the U.S. Southwest, triggering widespread flash-flooding and emergency responses. The saturation of the ground from storms that occurred overnight Monday exacerbated the flood risk.

New Mexico Department of Transportation reports highway debris

In New Mexico, the threat of a dam failure prompted evacuations for residents in three small communities along the Rio Grande. The New Mexico Department of Transportation reported debris on highways and flooded roads across the state. Forecasters indicated that northern and central New Mexico, including Albuquerque and Santa Fe, could see 3 to 4 inches of rain through Wednesday.

In Arizona, the deluge led to several water rescues. Desert rivers surged, and usually dry arroyos began to rage with floodwater. National Weather Service meteorologists issued warnings for urban flooding, advising residents to avoid dry washes, slot canyons, and burn scars.

The impact of the moisture is expected to extend into the central U.S., with heavy rain forecasted for Texas and Oklahoma beginning Tuesday night. Meteorologists expect moisture levels to remain near or above record levels for late September as the system moves toward the Plains and the Midwest.

Sonora state authorities suspend non-essential activities

In Mexico, authorities in the state of Sonora suspended all non-essential activities, including school, sports, and work, across the state capital and more than a dozen municipalities. While about 700 people remained in shelters in Baja California Sur, authorities reported no immediate serious damage or deaths, and residents were expected to return home.

The National Weather Service placed nearly the entire Southwest region under flood watches as the complex weather system spread northeast. Forecasters had predicted that Polo could dump 6 to 12 inches of rain across parts of Baja California Sur. In the fishing town of Puerto San Carlos, residents were observed walking through floodwaters past downed electric lines.

As the remnants of Polo continued to move, another storm, Rachel, was noted to be strengthening off Mexico’s southwestern coast. Officials continue to monitor the situation, as the historic moisture is expected to bring widespread flood threats to the Desert Southwest, spreading into the Plains and Midwest over the coming days.