Alert: heavy rain, gusts up to 60 km/h and 3-meter waves in Quintana Roo on Thursday
Tropical Wave 42 and a cyclonic circulation keep the state under a forecast of storms with lightning, according to Mexico's National Weather Service.
Quintana Roo, including Cancun, faces a forecast of locally intense rainfall across the north, center and south of the state on Thursday, October 2, 2026, along with lightning, wind gusts of up to 60 km/h and 2- to 3-meter waves along the coast, according to the 6:00 a.m. forecast issued by Mexico's National Weather Service (SMN).
What to expect
The SMN attributes the conditions to the interaction of Tropical Wave No. 42 and a cyclonic circulation with atmospheric instability and low-pressure troughs over Mexico. For the Yucatan Peninsula it forecasts:
- Rain: locally intense in Quintana Roo, with possible ponding, flooding and reduced visibility.
- Wind: from the southeast at 20 to 30 km/h, with gusts of 40 to 60 km/h.
- Waves: 2.0 to 3.0 meters along the Quintana Roo coast.
- Temperature: hot conditions in the afternoon.
What it means for Cancun
Several Cancun avenues and neighborhoods tend to flood during heavy downpours, so intense rain plus thunderstorms can slow traffic at rush hour. Waves of up to 3 meters also matter for anyone heading to Hotel Zone beaches or crossing by boat to Isla Mujeres.
What to do
- Do not cross flooded streets on foot or by car; water can hide open drains and potholes.
- Allow extra travel time and turn on headlights if visibility drops.
- Secure loose objects on rooftops, balconies and patios.
- Avoid sheltering under trees or near utility poles during lightning.
- At the beach, follow lifeguard instructions and stay out of the water in rough surf.
- Before crossing to the islands, check with your ferry operator for schedule changes.
- In an emergency, call 911.
The SMN updates its forecast several times a day; check it before heading out, along with state and municipal Civil Protection notices.
Related
After an average of 89 millimeters of rain, the city deployed 30 crews and closed several flooded intersections; residents are asked to use alternate routes and clear storm drains.
The National Civil Protection agency calls the exercise, with alerts by cellphone, radio, TV and loudspeakers; Cancún buildings can sign up.
Some 26,600 tons have been removed in Benito Juárez so far this year, nearly double the same period in 2025; landings concentrate in the hotel zone.
State Civil Protection forecasts downpours with lightning and coastal wind gusts; the Caribbean has no active cyclones and Tropical Storm Cristóbal is moving away in the Atlantic.