Hurricane Rachel strengthened into a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Thursday, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (121 mph) and gusts reaching 240 km/h (149 mph).
The Mexican National Meteorological Service (SMN) said hurricane Rachel had rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane, warning of heavy rainfall and waves of up to four meters. As of 3 P.M. local time (9 p.m. GMT), the storm’s center was located 390 kilometers south of San Lucas Cape, in Baja California Sur, and 415 kilometers west-southwest of Corrientes Cape, in Jalisco.
Rachel was moving west-northwest at six kilometers per hour, according to the agency’s report.
RELATED: Mexico Raises Emergency Readiness As Hurricane Polo Nears
Forecasters expect the storm to bring heavy rainfall of between 15 and 150 millimeters to Baja California Sur and Sinaloa, along with very heavy rainfall of 50 to 75 millimeters in Nayarit and Jalisco. The hurricane is also expected to generate sustained winds of 40 to 50 km/h, with gusts of 60 to 70 km/h, along the coast of South Baja California, and sustained winds of 20 to 30 km/h, with gusts of 40 to 60 km/h, along the coasts of Sinaloa, Nayarit and Jalisco.
El huracán #Rachel se intensificó a categoría 3 y se desplaza hacia el oeste sobre las islas Revillagigedo. Actualmente se localiza a 165 km al este-noreste de Isla Socorro, con vientos de 194 km/h, rachas de 241 km/h y oleaje de 6 a 7 m.
Puertos cerrados a la navegación:… pic.twitter.com/zkNlwc4fH3
— SEMAR México (@SEMAR_mx) October 2, 2026
Text reads: “Hurricane Rachel has intensified to category 3 and moves westward over the Revillagigedo Islands. Currently located 165 km east-northeast of Socorro Island, with winds of 194 km/h, rafts of 241 km/h and waves of 6 to 7 m (…)”
Flooding Risks Loom
The National Meteorological Service warned that rainfall associated with hurricane Rachel could trigger landslides, rising river and stream levels, and flooding in affected areas. The storm originally formed as a tropical storm off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast before gaining strength as it moved across the ocean, reaching Category 2 status early Wednesday, September 30 -just under a day after first becoming a Category 1 hurricane.
Mexico’s western coastline was already affected in recent days by Hurricane Polo, which prompted a red alert and restrictions in some areas. For the 2026 Pacific hurricane season, Mexican authorities are forecasting between 18 and 21 named storms, of which four to five are expected to reach major hurricane strength (Category 3 or higher).
Authorities have urged residents along the affected coastline to stay alert to updates from designated emergency response teams as the storm continues its slow westward movement. The consecutive impact of Polo and now Rachel underscores what has been a particularly active Pacific hurricane season for Mexico this year, with coastal states in the west and northwest repeatedly placed on alert in recent weeks.
Unofficial #HCCTWO
(1) #Rachel now a Major #Hurricane
(2) #Nolo strengthening OTS
(3) #Choiwan likely to become a Major #Typhoon
(4,5) #Surigae and #Fay weakening OTS#wx #cyclone pic.twitter.com/ZvNbhxz5w0— Hurricane Chaser Chase (@hurricane_chase) October 1, 2026
Local civil protection authorities in South Baja California, Sinaloa, Nayarit and Jalisco have been coordinating preparedness measures, though as of Thursday afternoon no mandatory evacuations had been reported in connection with Rachel specifically.
The storm’s slow forward speed -just six kilometers per hour- raises the risk of prolonged rainfall over the same areas, a factor meteorologists say tends to increase flooding and landslide danger even when wind impacts remain offshore. Authorities have not yet indicated whether Rachel is expected to make direct landfall or continue tracking parallel to the coast, with updated forecasts expected in the coming hours as the storm’s trajectory becomes clearer.
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