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Full forecast track map on the Live Storm Tracker.
Rachel has been tracked by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center in the eastern Pacific; NHC’s advisory archive for it starts on September 27, 2026. It is now a hurricane: NHC’s advisory 43, issued at 2:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, placed Hurricane Rachel about 1,290 km west of the southern tip of Baja California, moving west-northwest near 11 km/h, with maximum sustained winds near 130 km/h, and said “There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.” The box above shows its latest position; the table below is an earlier forecast this page recorded, kept for reference.
Earlier NHC forecast track (advisory of 2026-09-27)
| When (GT time) | Forecast position | Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 PM CST September 27, 2026 | 12.6°N, 99.1°W | 40 mph |
| 12:00 AM CST September 28, 2026 | 13.1°N, 99.9°W | 52 mph |
| 12:00 PM CST September 28, 2026 | 13.9°N, 101.6°W | 58 mph |
| 12:00 AM CST September 29, 2026 | 14.9°N, 103.3°W | 63 mph |
| 12:00 PM CST September 29, 2026 | 15.8°N, 105.0°W | 75 mph |
| 12:00 AM CST September 30, 2026 | 16.8°N, 106.5°W | 86 mph |
This was a forecast made on September 27, 2026, not the path Rachel actually took; on October 7 NHC placed it near 21.2°N, 122.3°W. The current track is on the Storm Tracker.
What to Watch in Guatemala
- Accumulated rain, not category. Guatemala’s storm disasters (Mitch, Stan, Agatha, Eta/Iota) were rain events on saturated soil, several without local landfall. Watch rainfall by department against the 30-year average.
- Landslides on highland and boca costa roads — avoid mountain highways (Cito Zarco, CA-9 south) during and 48 hours after peak rain.
- Pacific river flooding on the south coast — follow CONRED evacuation notices.
- Volcano lahars on Fuego and Santiaguito canyons — never cross drainages in rain.
- Travel status — storms, volcano and seismic feeds in one place on Guatemala Right Now.
Follow the System Live
- Hurricane & Storm Tracker — position, forecast track map, distance to Guatemala, GOES satellite
- Weather Hub — real-time accumulated rainfall by department
- Guatemala Right Now — the one-page live travel status
- Hurricane Season Guatemala 2026 — the full season outlook
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rachel now?
At NHC’s advisory 43 (2:00 PM PDT on October 7, 2026), Hurricane Rachel was near 21.2°N, 122.3°W, about 1,290 km west of the southern tip of Baja California, moving west-northwest near 11 km/h with maximum sustained winds near 130 km/h (80 mph). The live box on this page and our storm tracker show the latest NHC position.
Will Rachel affect Guatemala?
NHC’s October 7, 2026 advisory says there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, and the only land hazard it lists is swells along the coast of Southern California and northern Baja California. The advisory does not mention Guatemala. The live box shows Rachel’s current distance from Guatemala.
Should I change travel plans for Guatemala because of Rachel?
NHC’s October 7 advisory places Rachel in the Pacific west of Baja California and names no hazard for Central America. Rain and landslide conditions in Guatemala depend on current weather, so check the CONRED alerts for the departments you are visiting and our Guatemala Right Now page before changing plans.
Is rain or wind the bigger danger in Guatemala?
Rain, by far. Guatemala’s deadliest storms — Agatha 2010 (152 deaths at tropical-storm strength), Stan 2005 (~670 deaths without organized landfall) — were rain disasters on saturated volcanic soil. Watch accumulated rainfall by department, not the storm’s category.
