Hurricane Polo exploded into a Category 5 storm Tuesday morning, as forecasting models reveal remnants of the monster storm could reach parts of the US.

Polo has maximum sustained winds up to 160mph and is moving east at 6mph about 360 miles from Zihuatanejo, Mexico. 

The hurricane currently moving east through the Pacific Ocean, but the National Hurricane Center (NHC) expects it to make a sharp turn northwest tonight, followed by a west-northwest turn Wednesday.

Models show a handful of scenarios carrying Polo or its remnants toward California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas over the next seven to 10 days.

Southern California faces the earliest potential impacts, with large swells, dangerous rip currents and tropical humidity possible by the weekend even if Polo remains offshore.

Some model runs then carry the weakening remnants across northern Mexico into Arizona and New Mexico, with moisture potentially reaching western Texas later. 

However, most projections keep Polo over the Pacific, and the NHC is not currently forecasting a US landfall. 

Meteorologist Ross Ellet with 13ABC said on Facebook: 'While a few models have this storm turning into the Gulf of California, and possibly into the Southwestern part of the US, most weather maps push this storm northwest away from land. This will need to be watched in the days ahead.'

Forecasters said Polo could strengthen further through Tuesday night, although its intensity may fluctuate Wednesday. 

Hurricane-force winds extend 35 miles from its center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach as far as 90 miles.

A tropical storm watch is in effect along Mexico's coast from Tecpan de Galeana to Manzanillo, where damaging conditions could arrive by early Wednesday.

Polo could dump four to eight inches of rain across coastal Guerrero and Michoacán through Thursday, with isolated totals reaching 12 inches. The downpours could trigger life-threatening floods and mudslides, particularly in mountainous areas.

Coastal Oaxaca, Colima and Jalisco could receive three to six inches of rain. Large swells generated by Polo are also expected to create life-threatening surf and rip currents along southwestern Mexico's coast.

Meteorologist Dylan Federico with Florida's WSVN 7 News said on Facebook: 'Polo is forecast to become one of the strongest hurricanes of all-time in the Eastern Pacific.'

Spaghetti models, computer-generated forecasts showing potential future hurricane paths, show only a few possible routes into the US.