Hurricane Priscilla, a formidable force in the eastern Pacific, neared major hurricane status late Tuesday, October 7, 2025, as it churned dangerously close to Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. With maximum sustained winds clocking in at 105 mph (169 kph), Priscilla was on the cusp of Category 3 status—a threshold that marks a storm as a "major hurricane," with winds of at least 111 mph (180 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), as reported by the Associated Press.
By Tuesday night, Priscilla’s eye was centered approximately 185 miles (295 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. The storm was moving northwest at a steady 9 mph (15 kph), and its outer bands were already lashing the Mexican state of Baja California Sur with heavy rains and strong winds. The National Hurricane Center warned that the hurricane’s approach was producing big waves along Mexico’s Pacific coastline, with swells reaching the shore and causing life-threatening surf and rip currents. As one forecaster put it, "Swells from Priscilla were reaching the coast of Mexico. Life-threatening surf and rip currents were likely."
Mexican authorities, recognizing the threat, sprang into action. An interagency emergency response was activated to address the storm surge, elevated wave activity, and rising tides. The government of Baja California Sur canceled all classes at educational centers in Los Cabos and La Paz starting Tuesday as a preventive measure. Additionally, a dozen shelters were set up in Los Cabos to protect residents living in areas most at risk from the hurricane’s impact. These swift moves underscored the seriousness with which local officials were treating Priscilla’s approach. As reported by the Associated Press, “The government of Baja California Sur canceled classes at all educational centers starting Tuesday in Los Cabos and La Paz as a preventive measure. It also set up a dozen shelters in Los Cabos for people living in areas at risk.”
Forecasters also cautioned that parts of southwestern Mexico could receive up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain from Priscilla through Wednesday, October 8. The states of Michoacán and Colima, in particular, faced a significant risk of flash flooding. Such rainfall, combined with the storm’s powerful winds and high surf, posed a triple threat to vulnerable communities along the coast.
While Priscilla was making its presence felt in the Pacific, eyes were also turning eastward to the Atlantic, where Tropical Storm Jerry was gathering strength. Early Wednesday, October 8, Jerry maintained top winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was located about 950 miles (1,530 kilometers) east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands. The storm was moving briskly west-northwest at 23 mph (37 kph), with forecasters expecting it to become a hurricane within the next day or two. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch for Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, and Sint Maarten, signaling the need for residents to stay alert for rapidly changing conditions.
Swells generated by Jerry were predicted to reach the Leeward Islands by Thursday, October 9, with the core of the storm tracking near or just north of those islands late Thursday and into Friday. The NHC advised, “Tropical Storm #Jerry Advisory 4: Jerry Continues Moving Quickly West-Northwestward. Tropical Storm Watch in Effect For Portions of the Northern Leeward Islands.” This advisory highlighted the storm’s rapid movement and the potential for hazardous conditions along its projected path.
Meanwhile, in the Pacific, another system—Tropical Storm Octave—was weakening about 750 miles (1,205 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. With maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and an east-southeast drift at 7 mph (11 kph), Octave posed less of a threat than its more powerful neighbor, Priscilla. Still, the presence of multiple active storms underscored the intensity of the 2025 hurricane season in both the Atlantic and Pacific basins.
For residents of Baja California Sur, the convergence of these meteorological threats meant heightened vigilance. The tropical storm watch in place from Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lazaro reflected the uncertainty surrounding Priscilla’s exact track and intensity. While forecasts suggested the hurricane would begin to weaken starting Wednesday, the potential for destructive surf, flooding rains, and gusty winds remained high. As the Associated Press noted, “Priscilla was forecast to weaken starting Wednesday, the hurricane center said.”
Local governments weren’t taking any chances. The cancellation of school classes and the opening of emergency shelters were clear signals that authorities expected significant disruptions. These measures, while inconvenient, could prove lifesaving should the storm’s worst impacts materialize. In recent years, Mexico’s Pacific coast has experienced several damaging hurricanes, and officials have stressed the importance of early preparedness and community cooperation.
The storm’s broad reach was evident as its outer bands extended across Baja California Sur, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds well ahead of the storm’s center. Flash flooding, a perennial concern in the region’s mountainous terrain, was a particular worry in Michoacán and Colima. Even areas not directly in the hurricane’s path were expected to feel its effects, thanks to the expansive nature of Priscilla’s wind field and rain bands.
In the Atlantic, the watchful anticipation of Jerry’s development added another layer of anxiety for residents of the northern Leeward Islands. With the storm expected to strengthen into a hurricane, preparations were underway to secure property and ensure the safety of vulnerable populations. The issuance of tropical storm watches served as a timely reminder of the need to stay informed and ready to act as conditions evolve.
All the while, the weakening of Tropical Storm Octave provided a small measure of relief for those monitoring the Pacific. Still, the broader picture was one of heightened activity and potential danger on both sides of the continent. Meteorologists and emergency officials alike emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance, given the unpredictable nature of tropical systems and the rapid changes they can undergo.
As Hurricane Priscilla continued its march toward Baja California Sur, and as Jerry spun closer to hurricane strength in the Atlantic, communities across the region braced for whatever the coming days might bring. With memories of past storms fresh in many minds, the hope was that early action and careful preparation would help minimize the impact of these latest threats.
In a season marked by multiple simultaneous storms, the lessons of preparedness and resilience were once again being put to the test. For those in the path of Priscilla and Jerry, the coming days would demand patience, caution, and a keen eye on the latest forecasts.