Hurricane Simon makes landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast as Category 3
Category 3 Hurricane Simon strikes Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with evacuations and shelter-in-place orders.
Event / Disaster
2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Major storm systems affecting the Atlantic basin and Western Hemisphere, including Hurricane Rachel making landfall in Baja California with severe coastal flooding, elevated surf, and dangerous weather conditions extending to Southern California.
15 reported locations
Daily activity
11 articles0 articles
2026-10-10 to 2026-10-29 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 10 Oct, 12:37 UTC
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What happened
Hurricane Simon makes landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast as Category 3 storm
Hurricane Simon struck Mexico's Pacific coast as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115-120 mph. The storm's center tracked parallel to the coastline near Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco state, with its most powerful winds and heaviest rainfall expected around midnight Sunday into Monday morning. The hurricane's eye remained just offshore while impacting communities between the Sierra Madre mountains and the ocean.
Jalisco state suspends classes and evacuates residents from vulnerable coastal areas
Jalisco state suspended classes on Friday and Monday in 22 coastal municipalities in response to Hurricane Simon. Authorities began evacuating residents from at-risk areas and directed the tourism sector to ensure that workers and visitors were accommodated in shelters or safe zones. National Guard vehicles patrolled the streets as police urged residents to take shelter.
Mexican President Sheinbaum urges residents to remain sheltered until danger passes
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a public statement on social media urging residents of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacan to remain in shelters until the government announced that the danger had passed. She called on residents to follow civil protection guidance and avoid traveling on public roads, while noting that precautionary evacuation efforts to safe zones were ongoing.
Hurricane Simon expected to produce catastrophic winds and life-threatening flooding in Mexico
The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecasted catastrophic wind impacts and life-threatening storm surge along Mexico's west-central coast where the hurricane warning was in effect. Additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches was expected across Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa states through early Thursday, with some areas receiving up to 8 inches. Isolated totals of 30 inches were possible in parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco states, with potential for life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in higher-elevation terrain.
Flash flood threat spreads across Southwest with level 3 of 4 risk
A flash flood threat continued to unfold across portions of the Southwest on Sunday and into Monday. The greatest risk was forecast for parts of Southern California, northwest Arizona, southern Nevada, and southwest Utah, where a level 3 of 4 threat for flash flooding was in place.
Severe wind gusts and heavy rain reported in California and Arizona from outer storm bands
Outer bands from Tropical Storm Rachel brought gusty winds and heavy rain to parts of Southern California and Arizona on Saturday. Wind gusts exceeding 60 mph were reported during thunderstorms in Menifee and Temecula, California. Heavy rain of 1 to 2 inches caused isolated flash flooding and debris flow. A dust storm near Phoenix, Arizona produced near-zero visibility.
Major coastal flooding strikes Southern California from ocean swells and elevated tides
A combination of large ocean swells stirred up by Tropical Storm Rachel and prolonged swells from an El Niño-enhanced Kelvin wave produced major flooding along Southern California's coast. Newport Beach in Orange County was one of the hardest-hit areas, with flooding beginning Friday and continuing through the weekend. Main streets like Balboa Boulevard were drenched in floodwaters.
Newport Beach declares local emergency in response to coastal flooding
The City of Newport Beach declared a local emergency on Saturday in response to flooding caused by Tropical Storm Rachel. The declaration was intended to help the city secure additional resources as crews worked to protect homes, property, and public safety.
Southern California beaches and piers closed due to dangerous surf and flooding
Multiple Southern California beaches and piers were closed due to dangerous conditions from elevated surf and coastal flooding. Closed areas in Newport Beach included Newport Pier, Balboa Pier, and the Wedge surf spot. Other cities including Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, and Seal Beach also closed beaches and parking lots as a precaution.
Tropical Storm Rachel makes landfall in Baja California, impacts U.S. West Coast
Post-Tropical Storm Rachel made landfall in Baja California on Saturday night. The storm's remnants continued to sweep across the Western United States on Sunday, bringing gusty winds, heavy rain, and significant ocean swells to the West Coast region.
National Weather Service issues coastal flood warning for Orange County through Tuesday
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning for Orange County beaches beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday and continuing through Tuesday afternoon. The warning cited potentially significant flooding and beach erosion fueled by Tropical Storm Rachel's remnants, with particular concern for high tides and dangerous surf conditions.
At least four deaths confirmed from Hurricane Isaias in southern United States
At least four people were confirmed dead from Hurricane Isaias in the southern United States, including two fatalities caused by trees falling on houses in Florida and Alabama, according to local authorities.
Approximately 600,000 homes and businesses lost power in southern United States
Nearly 600,000 homes and commercial establishments remained without electricity on Saturday evening in the southern United States following Hurricane Isaias, according to specialized power outage tracking website poweroutage.com.
US Department of Energy released up to four million barrels from strategic petroleum reserve
The US Department of Energy authorized the release of up to four million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve on Saturday to compensate for the impact of Hurricane Isaias on oil production and refining capacity.
Hurricane Isaias was first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 season
Hurricane Isaias was the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which began in early June and continues through late November. The season has been unusually quiet due to the El Niño climate phenomenon, which suppresses Atlantic cyclone activity while intensifying Pacific cyclones.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida with sustained winds of 165 km/h
Hurricane Isaias, a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, made landfall in Florida on October 10, 2026, striking the Gulf of Mexico coast with strong winds of 165 km/h, heavy rainfall, and violent winds before rapidly weakening over Alabama and transitioning into a post-tropical cyclone.
Widespread property damage reported across northwestern Florida
Hurricane Isaias caused extensive damage across northwestern Florida, including overturned caravans, damaged gas stations, uprooted trees, fallen debris, roof damage to commercial buildings, and trees destroying residential structures and vehicles.
Tropical Storm Rachel expected to make landfall near California-Mexico border
Tropical Storm Rachel is expected to make landfall Sunday morning near the border between California and Mexico after already causing damage due to powerful swell accompanying the storm system.
Florida and Alabama declared states of emergency and ordered evacuations
Multiple states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, including Florida and Alabama, declared states of emergency and ordered evacuations in response to the threats posed by Hurricane Isaias, including destructive winds, violent waves, and massive rainfall.
Two-thirds of regional oil production capacity suspended due to hurricane impact
Approximately two-thirds of the region's oil production capacity and more than half of gas production capacity were suspended on Friday due to Hurricane Isaias, affecting numerous refineries and petroleum platforms in the Gulf of Mexico region.
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2 alternative perspectives
Tropical Storm Rachel triggers emergency declarations across California coast
Tropical Storm Rachel causes coastal flooding and emergency declarations across Southern California and the Southwest.
Tropical Storm Rachel expected to approach California-Mexico border
Tropical Storm Rachel targets California-Mexico border landfall.
Category 4 Hurricane Simon targets Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Category 4 Hurricane Simon expected to make landfall near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Hurricane Isaias marks 2026 Atlantic season's first major storm
Hurricane Isaias is the 2026 Atlantic season's first hurricane.
Hurricane Isaias suspends two-thirds of Gulf oil production capacity
Gulf oil production suspended; DOE releases four million barrels from strategic reserves.
Power outages expand beyond Florida to southern United States
Hurricane Isaias power outages expand to 600,000 across southern United States.
Hurricane Isaias leaves at least four dead, widespread Florida damage
Hurricane Isaias caused at least four deaths and extensive property damage across northwestern Florida.
Florida mobilizes National Guard and utility crews for Hurricane Isaias recovery
Florida mobilizes National Guard and utility crews to restore services after Hurricane Isaias.
420,000 Florida residents without power after Hurricane Isaias crossing
420,000 Florida residents lost power from Hurricane Isaias in the Panhandle region.
Isaias weakens from Category 2 to Category 1 crossing Florida
Isaias made Florida landfall as Category 2, weakened to Category 1 inland.