Heavy overnight rain tied to Tropical Storm Vance sent water rushing through Cabo San Lucas arroyos on Tuesday, sweeping away vehicles and triggering emergency rescues. No deaths or injuries have been reported, but officials closed schools, shut both local ports and flagged dozens of beaches as a new round of storms moved through the area Wednesday.
The flooding was severe enough that one vehicle ended up in the ocean and a city bus was pushed off the road near Plaza San Lucas in the El Tezal tourist corridor, according to a report from La Jornada. Firefighters working the municipal Cruce Seguro (Safe Crossing) operation at flood-prone street crossings rescued a 13-year-old middle school student who had been carried off by floodwater near the Aguajitos and Leona Vicario avenues. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and is reported to be in good condition; his parents and school were notified.
Separately, video circulating on social media showed a man knocked down by rushing water on a flooded street near the Cabo San Lucas marina. Bystanders pulled him to safety before the situation became more serious, according to Línea Directa.
Schools Closed, Ports Shut, 31 Beaches Flagged
Baja California Sur’s state Civil Protection Council ordered all public and private schools and daycares in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo closed for both morning and afternoon shifts on Wednesday, October 28, as a precaution, according to the Los Cabos municipal government, as reported by Uno TV. Families were told to watch official channels for word on whether classes resume Thursday.
The Capitanía de Puerto — the federal Port Captain’s Office — closed both the Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo ports to all navigation starting at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday because of the rough weather, a closure that remained in effect Wednesday, according to El Heraldo de México. Boat tours, sportfishing charters and the glass-bottom boats at Land’s End are typically affected by this kind of closure, so anyone with reservations should check directly with their operator before heading to the marina.
Los Cabos’ federal maritime zone authority, known as Zofemat, raised black warning flags on 31 beaches across the municipality Wednesday as an added precaution against further rain and rough surf. Black flags mean swimming and water activities are not recommended, regardless of how calm the water may look from shore.
Where Vance Stands and What’s Forecast
As of Wednesday morning, Vance was centered roughly 345 kilometers (215 miles) west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, moving north at about 19 km/h (12 mph) with sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) and gusts to 85 km/h (53 mph), according to Mexico’s National Weather Service as cited by Tribuna de México. The storm is not forecast to make direct landfall on the peninsula, but its moisture, combined with low-pressure channels pulling in humidity from the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, is fueling the rain over southern Baja California Sur.
Cabo San Lucas recorded 60 millimeters (about 2.4 inches) of rain in 24 hours heading into Wednesday, and Conagua, Mexico’s national water commission, forecast another 50 to 75 millimeters (2 to 3 inches) through the day, along with lightning, hail and wind gusts of 40 to 60 km/h along the south coast. Forecasters say Vance is expected to weaken to a post-tropical or remnant low system by Thursday.
What to Avoid Until Conditions Improve
Héctor Amparano Herrera, Baja California Sur’s subsecretary of Civil Protection, said Tuesday’s storm caught officials somewhat off guard and that despite the vehicles swept off roadways, there were no deaths or injuries. He noted that although the Cruce Seguro operation was deployed promptly, some drivers still try to cross flooded arroyos against official advice.
State Civil Protection officials are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from arroyos and flooded streets, and keep an eye on official alerts. “If you see a storm approaching or heavy rain about to start wherever you are, find a safe place to take shelter until vehicle and pedestrian traffic returns to normal,” the agency advised.
Crews with heavy machinery have already reopened one of the hardest-hit stretches of Avenida Nicolás Tamaral near the Chulavista neighborhood after clearing mud and debris, and similar cleanup is underway elsewhere in Cabo San Lucas. Standing water has also been reported along sections of the Transpeninsular Highway near Costa Azul, so drivers heading between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas should allow extra time and avoid flooded crossings even if they look passable.
