PUERTO VALLARTA, Jalisco, Sept. 28, 2026 — Tropical Storm Rachel strengthened Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, expanding Jalisco coastal alerts while Puerto Vallarta remained outside the formal tropical-storm watch area.
By 9 a.m. Central time, Rachel had sustained winds of 85 km/h and was about 665 kilometers south-southeast of Manzanillo. It was moving west-northwest at 13 km/h, according to the 9 a.m. tropical cyclone advisory.
The storm was forecast to become a hurricane by midweek. Forecasters said its center should move “parallel to, but stay offshore of” southwestern Mexico. No direct Puerto Vallarta landfall was forecast Monday morning.
Puerto Vallarta remains outside the formal watch
Mexico issued a tropical storm warning from Punta San Telmo to Playa Pérula. A tropical storm watch extended north from Playa Pérula to Cabo Corrientes.
That northern boundary stops south of Puerto Vallarta.
A tropical storm warning means those conditions are expected within 36 hours. A watch means they are possible, generally within 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Our review of the federal and state advisories found an important distinction for Puerto Vallarta residents: the city was outside the formal tropical-storm watch, but state authorities were forecasting weather effects across a broader section of coastal Jalisco.
The 9 a.m. Jalisco Civil Protection alert listed Costa-Sierra Occidental among the regions expected to receive strong to locally very strong rain from Tuesday through Thursday. Puerto Vallarta is included in Jalisco’s Costa-Sierra Occidental administrative region.
The state forecast called for 60 to 100 millimeters of rainfall between Tuesday and Friday in affected areas.
It also projected waves of 3 to 4 meters from Tuesday through Thursday. Wind gusts of 40 to 70 km/h were forecast, with stronger gusts possible in Costa Sur, Costa Norte and mountainous areas.
Rachel strengthened during the morning
Rachel’s wind speed increased between Jalisco’s early morning updates.
At 6 a.m., state authorities reported sustained winds of 75 km/h. By 9 a.m., the reported sustained winds had increased to 85 km/h.
The storm also moved about 55 kilometers closer to Manzanillo during that period, from roughly 720 kilometers south-southeast of the city to 665 kilometers.
The strengthening prompted Mexico to upgrade part of the southwestern coast from a tropical storm watch to a warning and extend the watch north to Cabo Corrientes.
Puerto Vallarta is already dealing with dangerous surf
Rachel arrives as Puerto Vallarta continues dealing with marine conditions left by Hurricane Polo.
By Monday morning, all Puerto Vallarta beaches remained under red flags because of elevated surf. Red flags mean swimmers should remain out of the water.
That follows several days of problems along the waterfront.
PVDN reported Sunday that authorities had restricted wave-impact areas along the Malecón as people gathered near the seawall during high surf.
Earlier in the weekend, red flags were posted across Puerto Vallarta’s beaches after rescues and deteriorating ocean conditions.
Local crews also responded after waves reached parts of the Malecón. Rescues were reported at Playa Conchas Chinas and Los Tules.
In Las Glorias, authorities cordoned off an area near Plaza Genovesa following flooding. Crews later worked along Calle Pablo Picasso, where sand associated with high surf and tides had accumulated around a storm drain.
Recent flooding adds another local concern
Rain from Polo also produced road problems across the city.
PVDN reported flooding in Las Glorias, Francisco Villa and along Avenida México over the weekend.
Those locations provide recent examples of the mobility problems heavy rainfall can create in Puerto Vallarta. Monday’s Rachel advisories had not announced new road closures in the city tied to the storm.
Jalisco Civil Protection advised residents not to cross flooded streets, streams or arroyos during periods of heavy rain.
The agency also recommended avoiding trees, metal structures and exposed areas during thunderstorms.
For coastal areas, authorities advised suspending recreational ocean activities during elevated surf and staying away from rocky beaches.
Those precautions carry added weight in Puerto Vallarta while red beach flags remain in effect and the coastline recovers from Polo.
Rachel remained hundreds of kilometers offshore Monday morning, and the official forecast kept its center at sea. The state’s alerts, however, place Puerto Vallarta’s broader coastal region in the area facing renewed rain, wind, and high-surf conditions in the coming days.
