Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Sept. 30, 2026 — Harbor authorities halted small-boat navigation at 4 p.m. Wednesday across Puerto Vallarta, Cabo Corrientes and Tomatlán because of Hurricane Rachel.
According to the harbor announcement, the restriction covers small fishing and tour vessels. The regional harbor master raised a blue-and-yellow flag signaling the prohibition on departures.
The National Hurricane Center’s evening advisoryprod-east-nhc.woc.noaa.gov placed Rachel 200 miles, or 320 kilometers, west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes at 9 p.m. central Mexico time. Sustained winds reached 90 mph.
Fishing and tour operators secure boats
Maritime authorities instructed boat owners to secure their vessels in sheltered areas. The instruction accompanied the suspension of small-vessel navigation throughout the three municipalities.
At Tehuamixtle beach in Cabo Corrientes, state civil protection crews helped fishers and nautical-service operators move boats away from the shoreline, according to reporting on the agency’s deployment.
Puerto Vallarta’s beach red flags also continued Wednesday, according to municipal lifeguard guidance. Civil protection officials urged people to stay out of the water despite calmer conditions earlier that morning.
Separately, ASIPONA Vallarta’s revised cruise calendar removed Coral Princess’s scheduled Oct. 2 visit because of Rachel. The port administration’s updated October schedule listed 20 cruise arrivals.
Storm seas and coastal surf forecasts
We compared the harbor report with Wednesday’s coastal forecasts to distinguish where the largest waves were expected.
The maritime report cited forecast seas of 18 to 20 feet near the hurricane. Those figures describe conditions around the system.
For Jalisco’s coast, state civil protection director Sergio Ramírez forecast waves reaching 4 meters, or about 13 feet. He told the state emergency committee that elevated surf could continue through Friday, with diminishing intensity.
The National Hurricane Center warned that Rachel’s swells would spread north along Mexico’s Pacific coast through the end of the week.
“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the center said.
High tides complicate drainage in Las Glorias
Ramírez said sand accumulation and high tides impede stormwater drainage toward the sea in Las Glorias. His explanation connected coastal conditions with the neighborhood’s recurring flooding.
Wednesday’s drainage operation included clearing a sand-blocked outlet near Plaza Genovesa. Official tourism listings locate the plaza on Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio in Las Glorias.
Ramírez said two state civil protection pumps and one SEAPAL Vallarta pump would reinforce drainage in the area.
“They will be working from one of the storm drains to move the water toward the beach,” he said in Spanish.
