Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Oct. 10, 2026 — Jalisco placed Puerto Vallarta and 21 other municipalities under its highest tropical cyclone alert Saturday afternoon as Category 4 Hurricane Simón approached the coast.
The state’s 3 p.m. red-alert bulletin includes Cabo Corrientes, Tomatlán, Cihuatlán and several inland communities. Residents have been instructed to remain in a safe building or emergency shelter.
A separate emergency directive called for nonessential coastal activities to stop at 4 p.m. Saturday. Authorities urged residents and visitors to avoid unnecessary travel.
What the maximum alert means for Puerto Vallarta
Red is the highest of five levels in Mexico’s Tropical Cyclone Early Warning System, known as SIAT-CT. It signals maximum danger and tells residents to stay sheltered until authorities determine conditions are safe.
The designation also means residents should follow evacuation instructions, stay away from windows and glass doors, and avoid traveling during the storm.
For Puerto Vallarta, the warning extends beyond beachfront neighborhoods. People living near the Río Cuale, Río Pitillal and areas with steep hillsides face potential flooding and landslide hazards during prolonged rainfall.
Residents in Centro, the Zona Romántica and neighborhoods along Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio have been asked to avoid nonessential travel. The guidance is not limited to beaches or waterfront activities.
Those living in flood-prone properties should follow evacuation instructions from municipal Civil Protection officials rather than waiting for water to enter their homes.
Puerto Vallarta has already activated emergency shelters for residents needing safer accommodations. PVDN has published a local evacuation guide with shelter information and emergency contacts.
Heavy rainfall and dangerous surf expected
The latest Jalisco Civil Protection forecast warns of widespread rainfall between Saturday and Sunday.
Accumulations of 150 to 300 millimeters, approximately 6 to 12 inches, are forecast across affected regions of Jalisco. Some locations could receive higher amounts.
Coastal waves could reach 6 to 8 meters, approximately 20 to 26 feet, beginning Saturday afternoon. Wind gusts of 100 to 130 km/h, or 62 to 81 mph, are also forecast, with higher speeds possible.
Those figures describe regional forecasts. They should not be interpreted as expected conditions at every location in Puerto Vallarta.
The combination of rainfall, high surf and wind increases the potential for coastal flooding, overflowing waterways, fallen trees and interruptions to basic services.
Authorities recommend staying away from beaches, including Playa Los Muertos, and avoiding exposed coastal areas such as the Malecón while dangerous conditions persist.
Residents should not cross flooded streets, rivers or streams, even when water appears shallow.
Hurricane Simón remains a Category 4 storm
According to the National Hurricane Center’s 3 p.m. advisory, Simón was approximately 325 kilometers southeast of Cabo Corrientes.
The hurricane had sustained winds of 240 km/h (about 150 mph) and was moving north at 7 km/h.
The National Hurricane Center warned that “preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion” in the hurricane warning area.
The storm’s Category 4 classification describes its maximum sustained winds, not necessarily the conditions every neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta will experience.
Our review of the state’s red-alert criteria confirms that the designation accounts for heavy rainfall, damaging winds and other hazards. It does not establish that the hurricane’s eye will pass directly over Puerto Vallarta.
The same state bulletin placed another 71 Jalisco municipalities under orange alert, indicating high danger, and 10 under yellow alert, indicating moderate danger.
School closures and emergency information
The Jalisco Education Ministry and University of Guadalajara have suspended in-person classes for Monday, Oct. 12, in 22 municipalities, including Puerto Vallarta.
Residents can monitor the state’s Jalisco Alerta platform for official warnings. Its updated mobile application also provides storm tracking, risk information and maps of available emergency shelters.
For changes affecting transportation and public services, PVDN has additional reporting on Hurricane Simón’s local service disruptions.
Civil Protection authorities advise residents to remain sheltered, follow official instructions and avoid going outside during temporary breaks in the wind or rain.
Anyone facing an immediate emergency should call 911.
