What To Do in a Hurricane in Los Cabos
Hurricane Los Cabos season runs June through November, and 2026 is not a year to be complacent. A strengthening El Niño is shifting the statistical math significantly, and NOAA and Mexico’s National Meteorological Service are forecasting an above-normal Pacific season with 15 to 22 named storms and up to 9 reaching major hurricane status. Here is what residents and property owners need to do right now.
How Dangerous Are Hurricanes in Los Cabos Historically?
The natural geography of the Baja Peninsula acts as a shield in a standard year. Most Pacific storms form further south and curve westward, or lose fuel over colder waters as they head north. Direct hits from major hurricanes are rare. Over the last 30 to 40 years, Los Cabos has taken a catastrophic Category 3-plus hit roughly once per decade: Liza in 1976, Paul in 1982, Fausto in 1996, Juliette in 2001, and Odile in 2014.
In a standard year, the weekly probability of a major hurricane disrupting life on the ground runs historically under 2 to 3 percent. However, a strong El Niño year changes that equation meaningfully.
How Does El Niño Affect Hurricane Season in Los Cabos?
While El Niño shears apart Atlantic storms, it does the exact opposite in the Eastern Pacific. Ocean temperatures are already tracking significantly above average in 2026. Furthermore, warmer coastal waters allow storms to sustain strength further north than usual, increasing the risk of a close brush, heavy tropical rains, and localized flooding before any system weakens.
The odds of a direct hit remain relatively low. However, the probability of meaningful impact is significantly higher this year than in a neutral or La Niña year.
What Should You Do to Prepare for a Hurricane in Los Cabos?
1. Clear your roof drains and scuppers now.
Flat concrete roofs with clogged drainage holes turn into swimming pools within an hour of heavy rain. The weight causes structural failure, or water finds its way under your sealing and ruins your ceilings.
2. Service and test your generator.
Run it under a load for 20 to 30 minutes. Ensure you have extra oil, clean spark plugs, and a safe dry place to store fuel. Never run a generator indoors due to carbon monoxide risk.
3. Check your shutters and tracks.
Spray accordion or roll-down shutter tracks with silicone lubricant and test them now. Trying to find a missing anchor bolt when winds hit 40 mph is a nightmare.
4. Trim your palm trees early.
Tall palms and heavy branches act like sails in high winds. Hire a local crew early in the season because once a storm warning is active, these crews book out completely.
5. Do a digital walkthrough for insurance.
Record a detailed video of every room in your house, including close-ups of electronics, appliances, and furniture. Upload it to a cloud drive. Time-stamped visual proof of pre-storm condition is worth its weight in gold for any insurance claim.
6. Stash cash in pesos.
When the power grid goes down, ATMs and credit card terminals go with it. Keep a secure reserve of small and medium peso denominations because local markets and gas stations may only accept cash for days or weeks after a storm.
7. Top off your propane tank.
Call your local provider, Global Gas or Caligas, and fill your tank to 80 percent maximum safe capacity before the rush starts.
8. Prepare a 14-day supply of medications and pet supplies.
A major hit on a peninsula can isolate communities far longer than 72 hours. Two weeks of critical prescriptions and pet supplies is the minimum.
9. Secure a waterproof go-bag for key documents.
Put your property deeds, fideicomiso papers, passports, FM3 residency cards, and insurance policies into a heavy-duty waterproof dry-bag in an easy-to-grab location.
10. Audit your water storage.
Confirm your cistern pump works. Fill your rooftop gravity tank and turn off the inlet valve before any storm makes landfall to prevent contaminated municipal water from entering your clean household system.
KT, Your Insider Guide
Living here since 2004, you learn to respect the ocean and the season. A strong El Niño year means taking preparation seriously a month or two earlier than usual. We have not had a truly massive event since Odile in 2014, and while we hope that quiet streak holds, a Super El Niño is exactly the kind of setup that ends one.
Furthermore, here is a tip the standard checklists miss: start freezing plastic milk jugs or large water bottles now. They keep your freezer cold when power cuts out, and as they melt you have cold clean drinking water ready. Additionally, buy a manual siphon pump. If gas stations are down but you have a full vehicle, transferring fuel from your car to your generator can keep your fridge running for an extra three days.
Better to have the plan ready and never use it.
Explore the full Los Cabos lifestyle and property guide at cabosfinest.com