# Hurricane Simon weakens to Category 2 off Mexico; storm Rachel leaves 10 missing in Baja California

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/world/hurricane-simon-weakens-to-category-2-off-mexico-storm-rachel-leaves-10-missing)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 13 Oct 2026
Updated: 13 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 13 Oct 2026

> Simon is drifting slowly off Jalisco after peaking at Category 4, while the remnants of storm Rachel flooded Baja California and moved into southern California. The eastern Pacific has set a record season.

**Hurricane Simon** weakened from **Category 4 to Category 2** by late Monday morning, **12 October 2026**, with maximum sustained winds of about **155 km/h (100 mph)**, the US National Hurricane Center said, [Al Jazeera reported](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/12/two-deaths-reported-as-hurricane-simon-storm-rachel-batter-mexicos-coast). Its centre was about **115 km west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes**, Jalisco, barely moving at 3 km/h, and forecasters expect it to make landfall on **Thursday or Friday**. Hurricane warnings are in force for western Mexico, with landslides and dangerous surf the main risks.

## Deaths and missing so far

- **Guerrero:** a 71-year-old man died when a retaining wall fell on him during Simon, Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed.
- **Baja California:** a young girl died from the effects of storm **Rachel**, Governor Marina del Pilar said. **Ten people are missing**: eight in Ensenada and two in San Felipe.
- **Mazatlan, Sinaloa:** cliff diver Juan Patines died after jumping into rough surf on Saturday night; officials have not linked the death to Simon.

The toll is preliminary and could rise.

## Rachel moves into California

Rachel peaked as a **Category 3** storm earlier in October and came ashore in Baja California as a post-tropical cyclone, bringing torrential rain and flooding. Its remnants then moved north through southern California.

## A record Pacific season

The northeastern and central Pacific has had **21 named storms** so far this year, and Simon pushed the region's accumulated cyclone energy past the previous record set in 2018. Forecasters link the busy season partly to **El Nino**, the same Pacific warming behind this year's heat records: see [Super El Nino sets a Pacific heat record](/news/science/super-el-nino-sets-a-pacific-heat-record-2026-could-be-the-hottest-year-ever).

## For Pakistanis in Mexico and the US west coast

Pakistani travellers and families in western Mexico or southern California should follow local emergency alerts and check flights before leaving for the airport. For more on the world's weather and what it means at home, see our [science desk](/news/science).

## Frequently asked questions

**Where is Hurricane Simon now?**

On Monday 12 October its centre was about 115 km west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco, drifting west at about 3 km/h, according to the US National Hurricane Center as reported by Al Jazeera.

## Sources

- Two deaths reported as Hurricane Simon, storm Rachel batter Mexico's coast (12 Oct 2026) (Al Jazeera): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/12/two-deaths-reported-as-hurricane-simon-storm-rachel-batter-mexicos-coast

How to cite: "Hurricane Simon weakens to Category 2 off Mexico; storm Rachel leaves 10 missing in Baja California", Searchable, 13 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/world/hurricane-simon-weakens-to-category-2-off-mexico-storm-rachel-leaves-10-missing