October 1, 2026 — Hurricane Rachel is moving northwest across the Pacific south of Baja California Sur, and forecasters say it could strengthen further. Los Cabos has opened shelters and cancelled school as a precaution. A separate disturbance off southern Mexico could become another storm next week.
Where the storm is
- September 30 position: at 8 a.m. MST, the US National Hurricane Center put Rachel about 200 miles south of Baja California Sur. It was moving northwest at 9 mph with sustained winds of 85 mph.
- Watches and warnings: all coastal watches and warnings for Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco have been lifted.
- October 1 strength: Rio Times reported Rachel as a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds. Forecasters said it could become a major hurricane within a couple of days as it tracks south of the peninsula.
- Rain: 2–4 inches are expected along Mexico’s southwest coast, with isolated totals up to 12 inches. That brings a risk of flash floods and mudslides.
- Seas: dangerous surf and rip currents are expected through the end of the week.
- Airports: Rio Times said the Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo airports were outside the warning areas.
Local response in Los Cabos
Los Cabos Civil Protection has taken these steps:
- Cancelled classes at all school levels.
- Opened four temporary shelters: two in San José del Cabo and two in Cabo San Lucas.
- Put evacuation teams on standby.
Next storm to watch
The National Hurricane Center gives a disturbance south of southern Mexico a 70% chance of forming into a storm within seven days, possibly late this weekend or early next week. There is nothing in the Atlantic or Gulf expected to form in the next seven days.
What it means for airline travelers
- Check your flight before leaving for SJD, PVR or ZLO. Outer rain bands and high winds can still delay flights even when the storm stays offshore.
- Stay out of the water. Do not swim at Pacific beaches while rip-current warnings are in place, and follow lifeguard and hotel instructions.
- Avoid flooded roads. If you are driving inland along the southwest coast, stay away from flooded roads and areas prone to mudslides.
- Keep an eye on the next storm. If you have a Mexican Pacific trip planned for next week, watch NHC forecasts. When several storms come in a row, flights out fill quickly and standby travelers can get stranded.
- Buy insurance early. Travel insurance bought after a storm has been named may not cover that storm. Check the policy wording.
- Register your trip. Use STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad.
Sources
- US National Hurricane Center (official) — NHC home and active storm advisories · Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook
- Rio Times — Hurricane Rachel at 90 mph; warnings dropped for Mexico
- Gobierno de Los Cabos (official) — Protección Civil activa refugios temporales y suspende clases ante huracán Rachel
