Polo strengthens into hurricane, threatening Mex ico

Polo strengthened off Mexico's Pacific coast into a hurricane on Monday and is forecast to rapidly intensify into a major storm, threatening floods, dangerous surf and strong wind gusts in coastal states and near major beach resorts.



Around mid-day locally , Polo was located some 435 km south-southeast of port city Manzanillo and 305 km south-southwest of tourist town Zihuatanejo, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h, the US National Hurricane Center said.



Forecasters said the storm could become a major hurricane by Tuesday and continue strengthening through midweek.



While its core is expected to remain offshore, the storm is likely to lash parts of southwestern Mexico with torrential rain and hazardous seas.



The NHC said coastal parts of Guerrero and Michoacan states could receive 10 to 20 cm of rain through Thursday.