PHOENIX (AP) — As former Hurricane Polo weakened over northwestern Mexico on Tuesday evening, the storm’s remnants battered the U.S. Southwest, flooding roadways and leading to residents in small New Mexico towns having to evacuate over concerns about a dam failing.
Polo had struck the Mexican state of Baja California Sur in the morning with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph). It crossed the Gulf of California and weakened to become a tropical storm as it moved inland to the northeast.
By Tuesday evening, the New Mexico Department of Transportation reported flooded roads and debris on highways across the state, while parts of Arizona were becoming especially drenched, leading to several water rescues.
That is after storms rolled through parts of the U.S. Southwest overnight Monday, saturating the ground, which can make flooding worse.
Later in the week, the flood risk is expected to move into parts of the central U.S., with heavy rain likely hitting parts of Texas starting Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.