📘Birth Pangs – Persecution Live

#TheWatchers : #Hurricane Polo intensifies to #Category 5, #HeavyRainfall #threatens southwestern #Mexico

By Rishav Kothari
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 16:25 UTC

Hurricane Polo intensified to Category 5 south of southwestern Mexico on September 22, 2026, reaching maximum sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) at 12:00 UTC before strengthening further to 270 km/h (165 mph) by 15:00 UTC, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for part of the southwestern Mexican coast, while heavy rainfall through September 24 threatened life-threatening flooding and mudslides in Guerrero and Michoacán.

Heavy rainfall associated with Polo will impact coastal portions of southwest Mexico through Thursday, September 24. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for portions of southwestern Mexico, and the Tropical Storm Watch has been extended westward along the coast.

At 09:00 CST (15:00 UTC) on September 22, Polo’s center was located approximately 335 km (205 miles) south of Zihuatanejo and 555 km (345 miles) south-southeast of Manzanillo. It is the second named storm of the 2026 Eastern Pacific Hurricane season to reach Category 5 Strength after Hurricane Genevieve.

The hurricane was drifting north at 4 km/h (2 mph), with maximum sustained winds of 270 km/h (165 mph) and an estimated minimum central pressure of 920 hPa.
By Rishav Kothari
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 16:25 UTC

Hurricane-force winds extended up to 55 km (35 miles) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds up to 150 km (90 miles). NHC forecast additional strengthening through the night, with fluctuations in intensity possible on September 23.

Mexico issued a Tropical Storm Warning from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo and a Tropical Storm Watch from west of Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula.

Tropical-storm conditions were expected in the warning area by early September 23 and were possible in the watch area by September 24. NHC said additional watches or warnings could be required elsewhere along the southwestern Mexican coast.

Polo had stopped moving east and was drifting north at the advisory time.
By Rishav Kothari
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 16:25 UTC

NHC forecast a turn toward the northwest and west-northwest during the night and on September 23.

The core was forecast to move close and roughly parallel to the southwestern Mexican coast while remaining offshore. NHC said uncertainty remained over how close the center would approach and the resulting wind, rain and surf impacts.

NHC forecast 75–150 mm (3–6 inches) of rain, with isolated totals near 200 mm (8 inches), across coastal Guerrero and Michoacán through September 24. The rainfall could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain.

Coastal Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco were forecast to receive 50–100 mm (2–4 inches) over the same period.

Swells generated by Polo were expected to affect parts of southwestern Mexico during the following days, producing life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions.

Michoacán suspended classes on September 22 and 23 at public and private schools of all levels in Aquila, Coahuayana, Chinicuila, Coalcomán, Lázaro Cárdenas, Arteaga and Tumbiscatío.

The state Education Secretariat said the closure followed instructions from the State Civil Protection Coordination. State officials also reported that 19 shelters were prepared for activation if evacuations became necessary and that response teams were monitoring roads, rivers and communities.

Polo was a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) at 03:00 UTC on September 21. Its winds reached 100 km/h (65 mph) by 15:00 UTC and 130 km/h (80 mph) three hours later, when NHC upgraded it to a hurricane.

Sustained winds rose to 175 km/h (110 mph) by 03:00 UTC on September 22, 215 km/h (130 mph) by 06:00 UTC and 240 km/h (150 mph) by 09:00 UTC. Polo reached Category 5 intensity with winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) at 12:00 UTC and strengthened further to 270 km/h (165 mph) by 15:00 UTC.

In its 15:00 UTC discussion, NHC described Polo as a relatively small, symmetrical hurricane with a well-defined eye, deep convection and strong upper-level outflow. Satellite analysis supported the 270 km/h (165 mph) intensity estimate, while a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft was en route to investigate the storm.

Earlier NHC analysis identified light wind shear, ample deep-layer moisture and sea surface temperatures near 31°C (87.8°F) as favorable for rapid intensification. An Argo float indicated that warm water extended approximately 50–100 m (165–330 feet) below the surface along Polo’s short-term track, limiting cooling from ocean upwelling.
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The #Watchers : #FlashFlooding kills 3 near Newcomb on #Navajo Nation, #NewMexico

By Rishav Kothari
Thursday, September 17, 2026 11:25 UTC

Two adults and a #juvenile drowned after being swept away by floodwaters near Newcomb, New Mexico, early on September 16, 2026. The deaths occurred amid a Navajo Nation-wide state of emergency for severe monsoon storms, flash flooding and storm-related damage to roads and infrastructure.

Flash flooding killed two adults and a juvenile near Newcomb in northwestern New Mexico early on September 16, 2026, as severe monsoon storms affected communities across the Navajo Nation.

Police received a report at approximately 00:30 MDT (06:30 UTC) that people had been washed away, and search crews later found the three victims, who were pronounced dead.

Navajo #PoliceDepartment officers searched the flooded area with Navajo Nation Fire and Rescue crews from the Newcomb and Shiprock stations, Navajo Emergency Medical Services, the Sanostee Community Emergency Response Team and 4Corners K-9 Search and Rescue. Police said the drownings remained under investigation.

The Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management (CEM) said preliminary information indicated that the victims were members of one family who died during an active flash flood in Northern Agency. Navajo Police placed the incident near Newcomb, while the Navajo Nation Council described the fatalities as affecting the Toadlena and Two Grey Hills communities.

The council and CEM reaffirmed Resolution No. CEM 26-004 on September 15, maintaining a Navajo Nation-wide state of emergency because of severe monsoon storms, flash flooding and storm-related damage to roads and infrastructure.

Police, fire and emergency medical personnel, the Navajo Nation Department of Emergency Management and Chinle Chapter personnel continued response operations. Navajo Department of Transportation crews were deployed to communities affected by flooding and severe washouts.

A preliminary assessment identified U.S. Highway 191 between mileposts 451 and 456 as a primary impacted area. CEM said evacuations were conducted overnight, while Sanostee Day School and Tohaali Community School were to remain closed for the rest of the week.

CEM urged residents to avoid flooded roads, washes, arroyos, and drainage areas. “Never attempt to walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters,” CEM Chairman Marcarlo Roanhorse said. The commission warned that floodwater can conceal washed-out roadways, debris and other hazards.

The storms were part of a deep, late-season monsoon moisture surge across the Southwest. On September 16, the National Weather Service said a low-pressure system near northern California and high pressure over the southeastern United States were drawing subtropical moisture northward into western New Mexico.

The atmosphere contained unusually high amounts of moisture. Precipitable water — a measure of the water vapor above a location — reached approximately 25–33 mm (1–1.3 inches), among the highest values recorded for the date. Daytime heating helped new thunderstorms develop, while earlier rainfall kept western and north-central New Mexico wet.

The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said moist southerly winds and a disturbance over southern Arizona helped sustain the storms. The abundant moisture and unstable air allowed the strongest storms to produce approximately 25 mm (1 inch) of rain in 30 minutes.

Rainwater can collect rapidly in the region’s normally dry washes, arroyos and narrow canyons, causing sudden flooding even away from the heaviest rain. WPC identified these areas, along with wildfire burn scars, as particularly vulnerable. By early September 17, repeated rainfall had also saturated soils in parts of northern and central New Mexico, increasing runoff from later storms.

The flood threat continued into September 17. WPC said an additional 38–51 mm (1.5–2 inches), or more, could fall in parts of the region before daybreak and maintained a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall for parts of the Southwest. Although fewer storms were expected later in the day, atmospheric moisture remained unusually high, and further heavy rain was possible across New Mexico and neighboring states

The Watchers : #FloodWatches cover #NewMexico, #Utah and #Colorado, heavy-rain threat shifts to #SouthDakota

By Rishav Kothari
Thursday, September 17, 2026 13:10 UTC

Another round of #HeavyShowers and #thunderstorms was #forecast across parts of New Mexico, Utah and Colorado on September 17, 2026, prompting Flood Watches for areas vulnerable to rapid runoff and flash flooding. A moisture-rich disturbance was then expected to move northeast into South Dakota, where the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) forecast 51–102 mm (2–4 inches) of rain with locally higher totals.

Flood Watches covered parts of New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado on September 17, as additional storms threatened saturated ground, burn scars, dry washes, and slot canyons.

WPC placed a high-end Slight Risk of excessive rainfall across much of South Dakota, where 51–102 mm (2–4 inches), with locally higher totals, was forecast as a tropical-origin disturbance moved out of the Southwest.

The #NWS office in Albuquerque issued watches beginning at 11:00 MDT (17:00 UTC) on September 17 for parts of northwestern, north-central, central and west-central New Mexico and the South Central Mountains. The affected areas included #Farmington, #Shiprock, the #Albuquerque and #SantaFe metropolitan areas, the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez and Tusas mountains, the West Central Highlands and burn scars near #Ruidoso.

The office said storms could produce rainfall rates of 25–51 mm/h (1–2 inches/h) during the afternoon and evening, followed by lighter to moderate rain overnight. Recent burn scars, urban areas, communities with limited drainage infrastructure, complex terrain, and already saturated ground were particularly vulnerable to rapid runoff.

Additional watches issued by NWS #ElPaso/Santa Teresa covered Sierra, Doña Ana, Luna and eastern Grant counties and the Sacramento Mountains of northern Otero County from 12:00 MDT (18:00 UTC) on September 17 through 06:00 MDT (12:00 UTC) on September 18.

The office said many areas west of the Rio Grande had received 13–51 mm (0.5–2 inches) of rain over recent days. Localized totals of another 25–51 mm (1–2 inches) were possible where strong storms developed or repeatedly crossed the same area.

In #Utah, watches covered the Wasatch Plateau and Book Cliffs, Central Mountains, Castle Country and San Rafael Swell, as well as southeastern Utah, the La Sal and Abajo Mountains, and the Canyonlands and Natural Bridges areas. NWS Salt Lake City forecast rainfall rates of 6–25 mm/h (0.25–1 inch/h), with locally higher rates under the strongest storms. Dry washes, slot canyons, slickrock terrain, and burn scars were among the most exposed locations.

NWS Grand Junction maintained watches across the Animas and San Juan river basins, the Four Corners and Upper Dolores River area, and the #SanJuan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. Recent rain had saturated the ground, while further storms threatened the Gold Mountain, Elk, and Ferris burn scars and other steep terrain. NWS Pueblo also maintained a watch for the Eastern San Juan Mountains and Upper Rio Grande Valley through the evening.
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The #Watchers : Strong M6.5 #earthquake hits Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands

By Teo Blašković
Thursday, September 17, 2026 14:46 UTC

A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.5 hit the Fox Islands region of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska at 14:19 UTC (06:19 LT) on September 17, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 114.8 km (71.3 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.5 at a depth of 106 km (65.9 miles). According to the NWS National #Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC), a tsunami is not expected.

The epicenter was located 162 km (101 miles) WSW of #Nikolski (population 18), 1 494 km (929 miles) SSE of Anadyr (population 15 604), 1 595 km (991 miles) SW of #Anchorage (population 291 247), 1 616 km (1 004 miles) SW of #EagleRiver (population 24 793), and 1 624 km (1 009 miles) SW of Knik-Fairview (population 14 923), #Alaska region.

A tsunami is not expected from this earthquake, according to the #NWS National Tsunami Warning Center.

The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related #fatalities and #economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. There are likely to be no affected structures in this region.

According to #USGS, there is a 43% chance of one or more aftershocks that are larger than magnitude 5, which can be damaging, within the next week. There will likely be smaller #aftershocks within the next week, with up to 680 magnitude 3 or higher aftershocks. #Magnitude 3 and higher aftershocks are large enough to be felt nearby.

At the time of this forecast, there have been 0 magnitude 3 or higher aftershocks, which are strong enough to be felt nearby, and 0 magnitude 5 or higher aftershocks, which are large enough to do damage.
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