Acapulco still grapples with Otis damage as super El Niño threatens harsher storms
Three years after Hurricane Otis devastated Acapulco, many buildings remain unrepaired and officials warn that a super El Niño could intensify the upcoming storm season.
Acapulco’s skyline is still scarred by the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, with towering apartments and hotels largely vacant and municipal buildings riddled with cracks and structural hazards. The city’s disaster-management centre, now equipped with dozens of screens, monitors ocean currents and sea-surface temperatures that have reached a record 31 °C, three degrees above normal, a sign that storms can quickly reach the highest categories.
NOAA’s warning of a super El Niño suggests the upcoming season could see more intense rainfall and powerful hurricanes along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Raúl Noyola López and other officials highlight the urgency of improving shelter capacity, marking safe zones on maps and distributing QR-code information, especially in high-risk neighborhoods like Colonia Libertad. Despite these efforts, some residents remain skeptical about evacuation routes and warning systems, recalling the week-long power outage and chaotic evacuation during Otis. The city continues to clear debris from flood channels and advise homeowners on roof reinforcement to mitigate future storm damage.
Why it matters
Acapulco’s incomplete recovery and looming super El Niño raise the risk of further devastation for residents and tourism.
How this story developed
- Aug 31 UN warns that a record-breaking El Niño could trigger worldwide extreme weather
- Sep 3 UN says the El Niño is expected to remain in place until February 2027.
- Sep 5 Czech forecasts include a possible rapid temperature rise to around 30 °C early next week.
- Sep 7 Britain announced cuts of more than 80 % to bilateral aid in eight African states.
- Sep 7 UK models show a higher likelihood of stormier, wetter conditions during autumn and winter.
- Sep 9 A brief spell of 27‑28 °C heat is expected in southeast England on Sunday.
- Sep 9 The contiguous United States experienced its warmest June-August period on record, with an average temperature of 74.4°F, according to NOAA.
- Sep 10 August 2026 set a new all‑time monthly heat record and drought drove the two biggest western water reservoirs to their lowest historic levels.
- Sep 13 Forecasts now show showers spreading across the west and east of the UK by Tuesday, following the brief heat spike.
- Sep 20 New forecasts show London reaching about 24 °C by Monday and showers expected in Manchester from Thursday.
- Sep 21 The system, now classified as a hurricane, is positioned about 270 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo and 190 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo, with sustained winds of 80 mph. Forecasts suggest it could reach major-hurricane strength by Tuesday and maintain a trajectory offshore while dumping 4-8 inches of rain across Guerrero and Michoacan through Thursday. Tourist hubs such as Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara may experience rough seas and gusty conditions, and the moisture could trigger flash-flood threats in the U.S. Southwest later in the week.
- Sep 23 Polo intensified to Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph.
- Sep 23 The study now includes regional death estimates for India, the Sahel, Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
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