Hurricane Polo nears Baja California Sur
Mexico's Pacific coast braces for Hurricane Polo
Monday, 28 September 2026
Warm-up
- What kinds of storms happen in your country?
- How do people prepare for bad weather?
- What would you pack for an emergency?
Vocabulary
- brace
- to prepare yourself for something difficult or unpleasant
- landfall
- the time a storm first reaches land from the sea
- mudslide
- a sudden flow of wet earth down a hill after heavy rain
- surge
- a sudden strong rise; in storms, a high wave of sea water
- evacuate
- to leave a place because it is not safe
- shelter
- a safe place to stay during danger or bad weather
- meteorologist
- a weather scientist who studies and forecasts the weather
- deploy
- to send people or equipment to a place for a task
Reading
Listen to this story
British EnglishPeople on Mexico's northern Pacific coast are bracing for Hurricane Polo. It is a category-three storm with winds near 115 mph (185 km/h). Forecasters expect landfall late Monday or early Tuesday in Baja California Sur, home to the tourist area of Los Cabos.
The US National Hurricane Center warned of heavy rain that could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides. It also warned of a storm surge with large, destructive waves. In Cabo San Lucas, access to beaches was restricted and some restaurants closed.
The state government kept schools closed on Monday. Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío said shelters were open if people need to evacuate. Federal authorities deployed thousands of navy and army members and machinery.
Meteorologists say Polo is moving slowly over very warm waters, fuelled by the El Niño climate phenomenon. On Sunday, residents bought water and food, and lifeguards raised red flags to alert holidaymakers.
Comprehension
- Where is Hurricane Polo expected to make landfall?
- How strong are Polo's maximum winds in the report?
- What dangers did the National Hurricane Center warn about?
- What actions were taken in Cabo San Lucas before the storm?
- What did federal authorities do to prepare?
Grammar focus
Subject & object questions
Use a subject question to ask who does something (Who + verb ...). Use an object question to ask who receives the action (Who + did + subject + verb ...). (Examples constructed.)
- Who closed the restaurants?
- Who did people ask for help?
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- After the mudslides, (rescuers helped / Who did rescuers help)?
- On Monday, (Who closed the schools / the schools closed)?
- About flooding, (Governor warned / Who did the governor warn)?
- At the beach, (Who raised red flags / Red flags raised)?
- Before landfall, (Who deployed the navy / The navy deployed)?
Discussion
- Have you ever experienced a severe storm? What did you do?
- What would you buy to prepare for a hurricane? Why?
- Should beaches close before a big storm? Why or why not?
- How can local leaders help tourists during extreme weather?
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