Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Sept. 23, 2026 — Jalisco officials warned Wednesday that Hurricane Polo could cause flooding and landslides, despite a forecast that avoids a direct strike.
In remarks published Wednesday, state civil protection chief Sergio Ramírez López said, in a translation from Spanish, “We will not have a direct impact from the hurricane on Jalisco’s coast.” He warned that rain could swell rivers and flood low-lying areas.
Puerto Vallarta is among 33 Jalisco municipalities in the state’s forecast for strong to very heavy rain through Saturday, according to its Sept. 23 advisory. The forecast covers a broad region, not equal rain in every neighborhood.
Flood risk around Puerto Vallarta’s waterways
For residents and commuters, the immediate concern is runoff reaching low streets and river crossings. Federal civil protection officials urged coastal communities to stay away from rivers, streams, and slopes as conditions change.
We checked the municipality’s geographic profile for the local context. The Río Cuale crosses the city, while the Río Mascota joins the Río Ameca near Las Juntas. Our earlier report on street flooding explains how runoff from the hills can fill low streets during heavy rain.
Rain forecast extends beyond the storm’s track
The National Hurricane Center’s Wednesday evening advisory projected 2 to 4 inches of rain for coastal parts of Jalisco through Thursday. That is a regional forecast, not a measured total for Puerto Vallarta.
Federal authorities said they identified flood-risk points across coastal municipalities in four states, including Jalisco. Their emergency briefing said state and municipal crews were clearing drains and water channels in priority areas.
