A tropical storm off Mexico's south-west coast has intensified into a Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours. Hurricane Polo, with maximum sustained winds of 165mph (266km/h), is currently churning about 215 miles (346km) south of Zihuatanejo in Guerrero state.
The rapid growth of Hurricane Polo is attributed to stronger than usual El Niño weather patterns in the Pacific Ocean. On Monday, Polo was classified as a tropical storm with winds below 74mph (120km/h).
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami indicate that Mexico is likely to avoid a direct hit from the hurricane. However, they have warned that further intensification is possible, and there is a risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides inland, alongside dangerous surf and rip current conditions.
This year's El Niño has been described as the most extreme on record, amplifying various extreme weather events globally. Conversely, the Atlantic basin has seen only six named tropical storms and no hurricanes so far this season, marking the first time in 112 years that no Atlantic hurricanes have formed by 21 September.