At least five people have died across Mexico's Pacific coast as Hurricane Simon and post-tropical cyclone Rachel battered the region. Hurricane Simon caused destruction in Guerrero state, killing a 71-year-old man in Chilpancingo, while Rachel triggered deadly flash floods in Baja California that left four family members dead and six missing. The Mexican military used helicopters to rescue 32 people from an Ensenada ranch, including American and German missionaries. Driven by a record-setting El Niño phenomenon, storm activity in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean reached its highest level on record.
Deaths and missing persons from the storms
- ▪Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed that a 71-year-old man died in Chilpancingo when a wall collapsed during Hurricane Simon.
- ▪Tropical weather systems Simon and Rachel caused at least five total deaths across Mexico's Pacific coast by October 12, 2026.
- ▪Baja California Civil Protection Coordinator Ignacio Lozoya stated six people remained missing following Tropical Storm Rachel, including two fishermen who disappeared near San Felipe.
- ▪Baja California officials reported four deaths near Ensenada due to Tropical Storm Rachel, including a 13-year-old girl, a 4-year-old boy, and two women from one family.
Impacts and forecasts of Hurricane Simon
- ▪Outer bands of Hurricane Simon uprooted trees and electricity poles, blocked roads, and flooded homes across Guerrero state, including in Acapulco.
- ▪The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Simon could drop 5 to 10 inches of rain over west-central Mexico, creating risks of life-threatening floods and mudslides.
- ▪Hurricane Simon, a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, battered Mexico's Pacific coast near Puerto Vallarta without making direct landfall on October 12, 2026.
- ▪Operations at Puerto Vallarta's international airport were suspended until the morning of October 13, 2026 due to Hurricane Simon.
Flooding impact in Baja California
- ▪Floodwaters swept away vehicles and damaged homes in Ensenada, Baja California, on October 12, 2026, after heavy rain from Tropical Storm Rachel knocked out electricity.
- ▪Landslides and overflowing rivers triggered by Tropical Storm Rachel cut off multiple communities across Baja California.
Rescue operation at Ensenada ranch
- ▪Baja California Secretary of Security Gen. Laureano Carrillo stated that those rescued at the Ensenada ranch included American and German missionaries attending a meeting.
- ▪The Mexican military deployed helicopters to rescue 32 people, including 22 foreigners and 13 youths, from a ranch in Ensenada, Baja California.
Baja California government response
- ▪Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila reported that emergency officials were assisting more than 50 people in temporary shelters following Tropical Storm Rachel.
- ▪Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila announced that 14,000 federal and state personnel were deployed across the state to handle emergency responses.
Impacts of Rachel in the united states
- ▪The remnants of post-tropical cyclone Rachel flooded Las Vegas on October 11, 2026, dropping 1.08 inches of rain and matching the city's all-time October daily rainfall record set in 1947.
- ▪Post-tropical cyclone Rachel brought large waves that damaged a boardwalk and inundated homes in Long Beach, California, forcing evacuations.
Record Pacific Ocean storm activity
- ▪Hurricane Simon pushed cumulative seasonal tropical storm and hurricane activity in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean to a record high on October 11, 2026, surpassing the previous record set in 2018.
- ▪Accumulated storm activity in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean is measured based on the cumulative duration of strong wind speeds.
Role of El Niño and climate change
- ▪Scientists indicated that human-caused global heating is contributing to increased intensity in El Niño climate patterns.
- ▪Meteorologists stated that the 2026-27 El Niño phenomenon is fueling higher Pacific Ocean temperatures and more intense hurricane activity.
Debatable claims
- ▪Municipal infrastructure in Guerrero state was unprepared for Hurricane Simon's outer bands
- ▪Baja California's emergency alerts were insufficient to protect residents from Tropical Storm Rachel's flash floods
- ▪Human-caused climate change is the primary driver of 2026's record Pacific hurricane activity
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