Hurricane season is the question many travelers ask about a late-summer or autumn trip to Puerto Vallarta. Here's when it is, what a storm actually does to a vacation, and how to plan around it.
When is hurricane season?
Puerto Vallarta is on the eastern Pacific, where the official season runs May 15 to November 30. The US National Hurricane Center says most storms form between late June and early October, with a peak in late August.
It overlaps the rainy season. The local weather station averages 370 mm of rain in September, the wettest month of the year.
Is the rainy season a bad time to visit?→What a storm offshore actually does
Most of the disruption comes from surf, not wind. A hurricane hundreds of kilometers out to sea can still send big waves into Banderas Bay. Two storms in 2026 showed what that looks like:
Hurricane Polo (late September 2026)
- Formed as a tropical storm on September 21 and reached Category 5 offshore. On September 25 it was about 430 km from Cabo Corrientes, and it never made landfall in Jalisco.
- On September 22, the airport and cruise port stayed open. The airport operator, GAP, reported no schedule changes or cancellations.
- By September 27, every Puerto Vallarta beach had a red flag. A tourist was reported missing at sea after strong surf.
- On September 28, waves crossed the Malecón and knocked people down.
Hurricane Rachel (late September to early October 2026)
- Became a hurricane offshore on September 30, strengthened, and moved away from the Jalisco coast.
- On October 1, the Navy closed small-craft navigation in Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and La Cruz, so boats couldn't leave the harbors.
- Civil Protection closed the Malecón and calle Morelos for three days. Waves up to 3 m eroded part of Playa de Oro.
- Navigation reopened on October 3, but the beach ban continued.
What that means for you: expect closed beaches, cancelled boat trips and water taxis, and a closed waterfront for a few days, even when the storm never comes ashore.
Today's beach conditions: waves, wind and flags→Do hurricanes ever hit Puerto Vallarta?
Yes. The mountains don't shield the city:
- Hurricane Lidia made landfall near Puerto Vallarta as a Category 4 in October 2023.
- In August 2021, rain from Hurricane Nora flooded the Cuale River, and part of a hotel beside it collapsed.
How alerts work
Mexico warns the public with the SIAT-CT early-warning system for tropical cyclones. It uses five colors, with separate tables for a storm that is approaching and one that is moving away:
| Color | Danger | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Very low | Follow official notices |
| Green | Low | Prepare your home |
| Yellow | Moderate | Know where your nearest shelter is; get supplies |
| Orange | High | Evacuate if authorities order it |
| Red | Maximum | Shelter fully, away from windows |
The Jalisco state government sends these alerts through its free Jalisco Alerta app, run by state Civil Protection. On the beach, a red flag means no swimming.
Planning a trip from August to October
- Book flexibly: choose refundable rates where you can, and consider travel insurance that covers weather disruption.
- Leave boat trips for flexible days: Marietas trips, fishing charters and water taxis to Yelapa all stop when navigation is closed.
- Check your flight on your airline's status page before heading to the airport.
- Respect the flags and closures: never enter the sea under a red flag, and stay off the Malecón when waves are crossing it.
- Follow official sources: Jalisco Alerta, Puerto Vallarta Civil Protection and the national weather service (SMN).
