Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, June 12, 2026 – Puerto Vallarta crews cleared debris from a stormwater canal that drains toward Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio as the city continues flood-prevention work during the early rainy season.
The work was done by the municipal Infrastructure and Public Works department, with support from Civil Protection and firefighters, according to a municipal notice and local reporting published Friday.
Crews removed trash, sand, and other material that had blocked part of the channel’s flow toward the bay. The city described the work as preventive after rain earlier this week exposed flooding risks near busy traffic corridors.
Canal cleanup follows early-season flooding
The city said crews used manual labor and machinery to open the channel. The goal was to keep stormwater moving toward the sea and reduce the risk of flooding for pedestrians and drivers.
Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio is one of Puerto Vallarta’s main north-south routes. Flooding or lane obstruction along that corridor can slow airport traffic, hotel-zone traffic, bus routes, and drivers moving between Marina Vallarta, Las Glorias, Versalles, Fluvial, and the south side.
PVDN reported earlier this week that heavy rain flooded several Puerto Vallarta streets, slowed traffic, and knocked down trees. The latest canal work appears to be part of the city’s early-season push to keep known drainage points open before stronger storms arrive.
Forecast keeps drainage work in focus
The timing is tied to the forecast. The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional called for very heavy to locally heavy rain in parts of Jalisco on Friday, June 12, including the state’s western and central areas.
Forecasts can change quickly during the rainy season. In Puerto Vallarta, afternoon and evening storms often build over the mountains before runoff reaches lower streets, canals, and bridge approaches.
Puerto Vallarta’s drainage system depends on open canals, streams, and outfalls that move stormwater from inland neighborhoods toward the bay. When trash, sand, branches, or construction debris collect in those channels, a short downpour can cause street flooding.
In May, the city reported a 45 percent advance in its river, stream, and canal cleaning program before the 2026 rainy season. The work began on March 17 and was scheduled to continue through June 30, according to public statements by Andrés Abundis, municipal Infrastructure and Public Works director.
PVDN covered that wider effort in May, when the city said crews were racing to clear canals before heavier rains arrived. Friday’s cleanup shows that work has moved from pre-season maintenance into response as the first storms test the system.
What to watch during the next storms
The city said it is monitoring vulnerable points identified during the season’s first rains. It did not announce road closures tied to Friday’s cleanup, and the municipal notice did not report major damage.
Drivers should still be cautious near low points, canals, bridge approaches, and intersections with poor drainage. Conditions can change within minutes once runoff starts moving downhill.
For residents in flood-prone areas, the useful signal is whether nearby drains and canals are open before the rain begins. Trash bags, yard waste, and loose construction material left near channels can move quickly during a storm.
Puerto Vallarta is still early in the rainy season. PVDN will continue tracking drainage work, street flooding, and official storm notices through our Puerto Vallarta hurricane season updates and our local rainy season guide.
