--- title: "Tropical Storm Rachel Intensifies, Polo Weakens Over Sonora" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/climate/tropical-storm-rachel-intensifies-polo-weakens-over-sonora" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/tropical-storm-rachel-intensifies-polo-weakens-over-sonora" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/climate/tropical-storm-rachel-intensifies-polo-weakens-over-sonora.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/tropical-storm-rachel-intensifies-polo-weakens-over-sonora" category: "Climate" published: "2026-09-30T06:45:54.543Z" source_reported: "2026-09-30T04:29:34.000Z" updated: "2026-09-30T06:45:54.543Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-30T06:30:17.082255+00:00" --- # Tropical Storm Rachel Intensifies, Polo Weakens Over Sonora *Rachel is expected to bring heavy rains to several Mexican states, while Polo has downgraded.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims about both storms are attributed to Conagua and the National Weather Service. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting on Polo is thin, with most outlets only providing digests. Rachel's coverage is more detailed. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines for Polo focus on its weakening, while Rachel's headlines emphasize its intensification. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Tropical Storm Rachel is intensifying south of the coasts of Colima and Jalisco. - Rachel is forecast to generate heavy rains in Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. - Polo has weakened to a tropical storm over Sonora, having previously made landfall in Baja California Sur. - Rachel could become a hurricane by the night of September 29 or early morning of September 30. Tropical Storm Rachel is intensifying south of the coasts of Colima and Jalisco. The storm is expected to generate heavy rains in Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. Intense rainfall of 150 to 250 millimetres is forecast for Michoacán, with 75 to 150 millimetres expected in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Colima and the coast of Jalisco could see very strong rains of 50 to 75 millimetres. Rachel could become a hurricane by the night of September 29 or early morning of September 30. The storm is moving northwest and is located west-southwest of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, and south of Cabo Corriente, Jalisco. While it is not expected to have a direct impact on Mexico, its circulation will cause heavy rainfall. Tropical Storm Polo has weakened over Sonora. It previously made landfall near Comondú, Baja California Sur, before moving over Sonora. Polo is located northeast of Guaymas, Sonora, and is moving north-west. Reports indicate it is expected to continue losing intensity and dissipate on Wednesday. ## Disagreements in reporting Reports differ on the exact timing of Rachel's potential hurricane status. TV Azteca stated Rachel could become a hurricane during the night of September 29 or early morning of September 30. El Economista and El Diario, however, reported that Polo had degraded to a tropical storm, with no mention of Rachel's hurricane potential in their digests. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre-rated reports mentioned the specific rainfall amounts forecast for Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, which were detailed in the right-rated report. Additionally, no left-rated outlet ran this story. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 67% (4) - Right: 33% (2) 5 of 11 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-30T06:30:17.082255+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-30T07:00:20.447Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on the weakening of Tropical Storm Polo. UPI reported Polo was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved over northwestern Mexico, with heavy rains continuing. Hola News stated Polo weakened to a tropical storm in Sonora, touching land for the second time and expected to dissipate. El Diario also reported Polo becoming a tropical storm over Sonora due to decreased wind strength. ### Right - The right-rated reports highlighted the intensification of Tropical Storm Rachel and its potential to become a hurricane. TV Azteca's full report detailed Rachel's trajectory, its potential to become a major hurricane, and the heavy rains expected in several states, including Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. It also noted local measures like beach closures and navigation restrictions in Manzanillo due to strong waves. Reforma's digest focused on Polo becoming a tropical storm over Sonora. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 3 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [lavozdemichoacan.com.mx](https://lavozdemichoacan.com.mx/clima-y-fenomenos/tormenta-tropical-polo-inundaciones-sonora-2026) — Degrades Polo to Tropical Storm in Sonora After Severe Flooding - [UPI](https://upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/09/29/latam-mexico-hurricaner-polo/1651790707059) — Polo downgraded to tropical storm as it slows over mainland Mexico - [Hola News](https://holanews.com/polo-se-debilita-a-tormenta-tropical-en-su-paso-por-el-estado-mexicano-de-sonora) — Polo Weakens to Tropical Storm in Its Passage Through the Mexican State of Sonora - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/environment/hurricane-polo-lashes-mexicos-baja-california-sur-carries-toward-mainland-2026-09-29) — Storm Polo weakens over Mexico as Rachel gathers strength offshore - [José Cárdenas](https://josecardenas.com/2026/09/polo-se-debilita-a-tormenta-tropical-en-sonora) — Polo Weakens to Tropical Storm in Sonora - [cronica.com.mx](https://cronica.com.mx/nacional/2026/09/29/polo-se-degrada-a-tormenta-tropical-sobre-sonora-rachel-mantiene-lluvias-y-vientos-intensos-en-el-pacifico) — Polo Degrades to Tropical Storm over Sonora; Rachel Maintains Heavy Winds and Rains in the Pacific - [El Economista](https://eleconomista.com.mx/politica/polo-degrada-tormenta-tropical-paso-sonora-saldo-blanco-20260929-835930.html) — "Polo" Degrades to Tropical Storm After Passing Through Sonora with White Balance - [Reforma](https://reforma.com/se-convierte-polo-en-tormenta-tropical-sobre-sonora/ar3284979) — Turns 'Polo' Into Tropical Storm over Sonora - [elnorte.com](https://elnorte.com/se-convierte-polo-en-tormenta-tropical-sobre-sonora/ar3284983) — Turns 'Polo' Into Tropical Storm over Sonora - [TV Azteca](https://tvazteca.com/aztecanoticias/trayectoria-en-vivo-rachel-estados-en-alerta-por-fuertes-lluvias-tormenta-tropical-convertira-huracan) — Tropical Storm “Rachel” Intensifies in Front of Mexico: Its Trajectory and Affected States Continue LIVE - [El Diario](https://diario.mx/nacional/2026/sep/29/se-convierte-polo-en-tormenta-tropical-sobre-sonora-1140798.html) — Turns 'Polo' Into Tropical Storm over Sonora ## Questions **What is the current status of Tropical Storm Rachel?** Tropical Storm Rachel is intensifying south of the coasts of Colima and Jalisco. It is expected to generate heavy rains in Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca and could become a hurricane by the night of September 29 or early morning of September 30. **What happened to Tropical Storm Polo?** Tropical Storm Polo has weakened over Sonora after making landfall in Baja California Sur. It is located northeast of Guaymas and is expected to continue losing intensity and dissipate. **Which states are expected to receive heavy rains from Rachel?** Michoacán is expected to receive the most intense rainfall, between 150 and 250 millimetres. Guerrero and Oaxaca could see intense rains of 75 to 150 millimetres, while Colima and the coast of Jalisco might experience very strong rains of 50 to 75 millimetres. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/climate/tropical-storm-rachel-intensifies-polo-weakens-over-sonora. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Tropical Storm Rachel Intensifies, Polo Weakens Over Sonora", https://mediabias.news/climate/tropical-storm-rachel-intensifies-polo-weakens-over-sonora