Full Breakdown
Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel batter Mexico’s Pacific coast
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Storm impacts and casualties
In early October 2026, Hurricane Simon – a Category 4 system at peak – and the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel struck Mexico’s western shoreline within days of each other. Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed the death of 71-year-old Albino Moreno Jiménez when a retaining wall collapsed. State Governor Marina del Pilar later reported a young girl’s death in Baja California, while La Jornada cited two deaths in that state and 11 people missing. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted one confirmed fatality and dozens of missing residents across Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima and Sinaloa.
Background: record Pacific season and El Niño
The 2026 Pacific hurricane season has been unusually active, with 21 named storms so far. Scientists link the heightened intensity to a strong El Niño, which warms Pacific waters and reduces wind shear, allowing storms such as Simon and Rachel to intensify rapidly.
Data & statistics
- Simon’s maximum sustained winds: 150 mph (240 km/h) at peak (NHC).
- Rainfall forecasts: 10–20 in (25–51 cm) across southwestern Mexico, with isolated totals up to 30 in (76 cm) in Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco.
- Wind gusts: up to 155 mph (250 km/h) reported near the eye.
- Missing persons: at least 10 reported in Baja California, eight in Ensenada and two in San Felipe.
- Damage: flooding in Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta; power outages and structural water damage reported by residents.
Official statements & responses
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacán to stay indoors until authorities declare the danger over. Governor Pablo Navarro warned of “high-risk marine conditions” and waves up to eight metres. Civil Protection coordinator Laura Velázquez Alzúa asked the public to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders. The NHC emphasized the threat of life-threatening flooding, mudslides and storm surge along the west-central coast.
On-the-ground reports
In Puerto Vallarta, the Mexican Navy patrolled the boardwalk while businesses boarded windows and sandbagged entrances. Manzanillo resident Cecilia Palomar described her home inundated up to ankle height, saying, “The beds, the refrigerators, the stoves, all the furniture got wet. The whole house flooded.”
Conflicting reports & gaps
- Fatalities: Al Jazeera and local outlets report two deaths in Baja California, while Reuters and the Jamaica Observer cite only the Guerrero fatality.
- Missing persons: Numbers range from ten to eleven (La Jornada) in Baja California.
- Landfall status: Some advisories describe Simon as “very close” to the coast, while others note the eye remained offshore, leaving the exact landfall point unconfirmed.
Verbatim quotes
- “With the approaching impact of Category 4 Hurricane Simon, we urge residents of coastal municipalities in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacan to remain sheltered until authorities officially declare that the danger has passed,” — Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexican president
- “Simon is very close to the coast of Mexico this morning,” — Phillippe Pappin, senior hurricane specialist
What’s next
The NHC projects Simon to remain a hurricane through mid-week, with a gradual turn northeastward toward inland Mexico. Moisture from the weakening system is expected to drift northward, enhancing rainfall chances in Texas and the Southern High Plains later in the week. Authorities continue to monitor river levels in Jalisco’s Marabasco River and stand ready to issue evacuation orders if flooding escalates. Residents are advised to follow updates from Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination and the NHC for the latest forecasts.