If you have a vacation booked in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in the next few days, you might be apprehensive about the impact of Tropical Storm Carlos, deciding whether or not to cancel your vacation to Mexico.

The chance of a serious risk while vacation in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas during the passing of Tropical Storm Carlos is pretty low as the tropical storm is expected to make landfall today in the afternoon, when it will quickly lose speed due to the buffer of the Sierra Madre Mountains. By the time Tropical Storm Carlos reaches Puerto Vallarta, it is expected to be a category 1 storm.

However, for those on vacation in Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas during the passing of Tropical Storm Carlos, prepare yourself for rain and some high winds, with the potential for delays at the airports. Other activities affected by Tropical Storm Carlos which may have an impact on your vacations are things like diving, yacht trips, surfing and so forth, which are best avoided during the passing of Tropical Storm Carlos because of the strong tides and waves it has provoked. After the hurricane has passed, all normal activities will resume in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. It is also important to note that the impact on Cabo San Lucas will also be minimal as the route of Tropical Storm Carlos is not destined to pass by the tip of the peninsula.

On June 12 at 15:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. EDT) NOAA’s GOES-West satellite captured this visible image of Tropical Storm Carlos off the coast of southwestern Mexico.
Credits: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

What to do in the event of a hurricane while on vacation

If you happened to be caught in the path of a hurricane and do not have chance to evacuate prior to the hurricane making landfall, you should consider doing the following:

1. Listen to the advice of the hotel management where you are staying.
2. Go to the recommended shelter, which may be within the hotel itself if advised to do so.
3. Close all windows, remove all objects on your balcony and close your blinds and curtains. Often the safest place in your suite is in the bathroom.
4. Collect all your important documents and be ready to evacuate if necessary. Paperwork and important documents should be placed in a waterproof container where possible.

If you have any doubts about your vacations during the passing of Tropical Storm Carlos, contact your travel agent or call the hotel where you have your reservation.