The situation
Real talk: the vibes on Mexico’s Pacific coast are currently off. A double hit from Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel has left at least five people dead and several others missing. The storms have wreaked havoc on local infrastructure, downing power lines, blocking roads, and flooding homes across multiple states.
What went down
In the state of Guerrero, governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed that a 71-year-old man died after a wall collapsed in Chilpancingo. The storm also caused significant damage in coastal areas, including the major seaport of Acapulco. Meanwhile, in Baja California, officials confirmed the deaths of four members of a single family, including two children, on the outskirts of Ensenada.
Security forces have been working overtime, using helicopters to rescue at least 32 people from floodwaters. Baja governor Marina del Pilar reported that over 50 people are currently being housed in temporary shelters. While Hurricane Simon has since weakened and is moving away from the coast, the National Hurricane Center is still warning that heavy rain could trigger more life-threatening flooding and mudslides in west-central Mexico over the next few days.
Why it matters
It’s giving major climate anxiety, and for good reason. Meteorologists are noting that the 2026-27 El Niño is tracking to be the biggest ever recorded. With rising ocean temperatures and human-caused global heating, these weather events are highkey getting more intense, making the future of storm seasons a massive L for coastal regions.
