Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel Trigger Deadly Flooding in Mexico

Updated on: October 13, 2026 / 6:10 PM EDT / CBS/AP

The death count resulting from Hurricane Simon and remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel reached six on Tuesday. Heavy rains triggered intense flooding and landslides along Mexico’s Pacific coastline. Authorities reported these escalating dangers as Hurricane Simon persisted as a Category 1 storm, slowly moving off the coast, bringing substantial rain to the states of Nayarit and Sinaloa.

The storm initially caused significant rainfall in Guerrero over the weekend, leading to one fatality. Though the hurricane’s eye stayed offshore, its outer bands impacted communities between the Sierra Madre and the Pacific Ocean near Puerto Vallarta.

Hurricane Simon’s Progress and Forecast

Simon exhibited sustained winds of 90 mph, qualifying it as a Category 1 hurricane. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami noted it had become a small tropical cyclone, positioned 115 miles west of Cabo Corrientes and moving westward at 2 mph. The hurricane might undergo intensity fluctuations but is likely to maintain its hurricane status until Thursday, subsequently weakening.

The Mexican states of Baja California Sur, Nayarit, and Sinaloa could experience up to 3 inches of rain by Friday. Moisture from Simon raises flash flooding risks from Texas to Missouri, possibly delivering up to 8 inches in certain areas, as per meteorologist Nikki Nolan.

Destruction in Baja California

In Baja California, specifically Ensenada, floodwaters swept away vehicles and disrupted homes, leading to four fatalities. The flooding began overnight, accompanied by heavy rain that caused power outages, said local resident Johana Nuriulu. A rapid overflow of a stream inundated streets and houses, carrying away possessions and vehicles.

Landslides and river overflows severed some communities in Baja California. The military rescued 32 people, including 22 foreigners, using helicopters in Ensenada. Among the group were missionaries from Germany and the U.S. The fatalities included a young girl and three unidentified adults.

Baja California authorities deployed over 14,000 personnel to assist those affected. In Guerrero, Simon brought down trees, power poles, and flooded roads in several coastal towns, particularly Acapulco. A 71-year-old man died from a wall collapse in Guerrero’s capital.

Impact Beyond Mexico

Rachel, now a post-tropical cyclone, moved into Southern California, causing significant wave activity and damaging coastal structures in Long Beach. Some areas of the Southwestern U.S. recorded heavy rainfall, with Las Vegas matching an October rainfall record. Videos captured torrents of water near the Las Vegas Strip.

While flood advisories mostly subsided by Monday in Utah and Arizona, the Moab 240 ultramarathon halted due to flooding. Separate weather systems, not attributed to Rachel, contributed additional rainfall in the West, expected to taper by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, power restoration continued in the Southeast U.S., impacted by Hurricane Isaias, the first Atlantic hurricane of the season. The storm incurred at least four deaths, hitting the U.S. coast in Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 hurricane before dissipating in Alabama.