Hurricane Rachel strengthens to a Category 3 storm off Mexico's Pacific
coast
[October 02, 2026]
By FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ, JONATHAN CASTELLÓN and SARAH RAZA
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Rachel has been upgraded to a Category 3
storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast as northern Mexico and parts of the
U.S. Southwest were reeling from flooding and damage from the remnants
of Hurricane Polo earlier this week.
The storm, located about 235 miles (380 kilometers) south off the
southern tip of Baja California, was continuing west-northwest at 3 mph
(6 kph) and expected to strengthen Friday before weakening this weekend,
according to the National Hurricane Center.
The maximum sustained winds were 120 miles per hour (193 kph) as of
Thursday evening. Rachel’s swells are expected to generate
life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions off Mexico’s coast, the
NHC warned.
Mexican authorities said Thursday they remain on alert because of
forecasts of very heavy rain in the states of Baja California Sur,
Sinaloa, and Jalisco, and the possibility of landslides, rising river
levels, overflowing rivers and flooding in low-lying areas.
On Wednesday night, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico warned U.S. citizens in
Cabos San Lucas, a popular vacation destination for Americans, of beach
and port closures and deadly rip currents.
The Pacific has seen an unusually busy hurricane season, which experts
have attributed to El Niño, which has fueled crippling droughts in
Mexico and Central America and floods in other parts of the region. In
the Pacific, it has resulted in warmer waters and wind patterns that act
as fodder for hurricanes. Tropical Storm Nolo continued its northwest
approach away from Hawaii on Thursday, though the National Weather
Service said it could strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend.
Northern Mexico still reeling from Polo
Parts of northern Mexico were still reeling from floods and wider
destruction left by Polo. Hundreds of people remained displaced or had
their homes destroyed, and at least 13 municipalities remained flooded
Thursday night, according to local authorities.
Lucía Vegas, who lives in the small town of Bacabachi in the border
state of Sonora, said it was a miracle she survived severe flooding as
it swept through her community. She, her husband and three children were
left homeless.
Vegas said she and her family managed to survive thanks to their dog. In
the middle of the night, as the floodwaters were rising, the dog woke
her by shaking water off herself, giving the family enough time to climb
a ladder onto the roof of their home just minutes before it was
completely flooded.
“Right now, we have been left with nothing,” the 39-year-old woman said
through tears.
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A vehicle navigates a flooded roadway as heavy rain move through the
area, in San Antonio, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Storm remnants drench central U.S.
Areas in Texas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa were still under flood
watch Thursday afternoon as storm remnants continued to batter the
region, flooding streets and neighborhoods and setting off water
rescues.
Wednesday was the wettest day on record for Lincoln, Nebraska, which
received 6.1 inches of rainfall, according to the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln Climate Office.
In Omaha, which received 4.7 inches of rain Wednesday, the fire
department said it responded to 80 water rescues over a three-hour
period ending early Thursday. Some floodwaters reached depths of 8
feet. Schools remained open. But many buses never made it out of
flooded parking lots, prompting officials to ask parents to
transport their students to school.
San Antonio, Texas, was under a flash-flood warning through Thursday
evening, and the city urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
More than 19,000 residents across the state were without power
Thursday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us. Videos posted on
social media showed floodwaters in Texas creating waves along
Interstate 35 in Denton.
In Chicago, a wastewater treatment and stormwater management utility
urged residents to conserve water use to prevent flooding and
stormwater backup.
“We encourage everyone to conserve water when possible to create
more capacity in our systems,” utility President Kari K. Steele said
in a statement Wednesday.
In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly issued an emergency proclamation on
Wednesday ahead of the storms that allows state resources to assist
first responders in hard-hit communities.
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Raza reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Castellón reported
from Bacabachi, Mexico. Associated Press writer John Raby in Cross
Lanes, West Virginia, contributed to this report.
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