2026 Eastern Pacific hurricane season
Tropical Storm Rachel 2026
LiveLast fix at 27 Sept 2026, 18:00 UTC
Rachel 2026 current status
Tropical Storm Rachel 2026 is currently at 12.7°N, 98.9°W in the Eastern Pacific, with maximum sustained winds of 35 kt. The latest NHC forecast takes Rachel west-northwest at first, then turning northwest. Rachel (NHC designation 18E) is active in the Eastern Pacific. At 27 Sept 2026, 18:00 UTC, it was located at 12.7°N, 98.9°W with winds of 40 mph / 65 km/h (tropical storm strength) and a central pressure of 1005 hPa. NHC advisory 3, issued 27 Sept 21:00 UTC, puts it at 19.3°N, 109.4°W by 2 Oct 18:00 UTC, with forecast winds peaking at 85 kt (98 mph / 157 km/h) on 1 Oct 18:00 UTC.
40 mph / 65 km/h; peak so far 35 kt
Lowest so far 1005 hPa, 27 Sept 2026
No motion in this fix
830 km travelled as of 27 Sept 2026, 18:00 UTC
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LATEST FORECAST
Rachel 2026 forecast track
The cone on the map is the likely path of the centre; impacts reach beyond it. For warnings, use NHC and your local weather service.
Forecast positions and winds from NHC advisory 3
| Forecast time | Lead | Position | Wind | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +0 h | 12.6°N, 99.1°W | 35 kt | Tropical storm | |
| +12 h | 13.1°N, 99.9°W | 45 kt | Tropical storm | |
| +24 h | 13.9°N, 101.6°W | 50 kt | Tropical storm | |
| +36 h | 14.9°N, 103.3°W | 55 kt | Tropical storm | |
| +48 h | 15.8°N, 105°W | 65 kt | Hurricane, Category 1 | |
| +60 h | 16.8°N, 106.5°W | 75 kt | Hurricane, Category 1 | |
| +72 h | 17.7°N, 107.6°W | 80 kt | Hurricane, Category 1 | |
| +96 h | 18.7°N, 108.9°W | 85 kt | Hurricane, Category 2 | |
| +120 h | 19.3°N, 109.4°W | 85 kt | Hurricane, Category 2 |
This advisory plots 9 positions over 120 hours. Winds strengthen from 35 kt to a peak of 85 kt on 1 Oct 18:00 UTC. Times are UTC and winds are one-minute sustained.
QUICK ANSWERS
Rachel 2026: where it is and where it is going
Where is Tropical Storm Rachel now?
At 27 Sept 2026, 18:00 UTC, the latest NHC fix, Tropical Storm Rachel was at 12.7°N, 98.9°W in the Eastern Pacific. The position updates with each NHC advisory.
What is Rachel’s current wind speed?
35 kt (40 mph / 65 km/h) one-minute sustained at 27 Sept 2026, 18:00 UTC, with a central pressure of 1005 hPa.
Where is Rachel 2026 headed?
The NHC forecast (advisory 3, issued 27 Sept 21:00 UTC) takes Rachel west-northwest at first, then turning northwest, reaching 19.3°N, 109.4°W by 2 Oct 18:00 UTC, with forecast winds peaking at 85 kt (98 mph / 157 km/h) on 1 Oct 18:00 UTC.
Will Rachel become a hurricane?
The NHC forecast brings Rachel to 85 kt (98 mph / 157 km/h) by 1 Oct 18:00 UTC, which is hurricane strength (64 kt or more): it would then be Hurricane Rachel 2026.
What is the latest NHC forecast for Rachel?
NHC advisory 3, issued 27 Sept 21:00 UTC, with 9 forecast positions to 2 Oct 18:00 UTC. They are listed in the forecast track table on this page and drawn on the map.
When and where did Tropical Storm Rachel form?
In the Eastern Pacific basin, in the 2026 season. Its first recorded position is 9.2°N, 92.6°W on 25 Sept 2026, 00:00 UTC.
Has Tropical Storm Rachel made landfall?
No position so far places Tropical Storm Rachel’s center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
METHODOLOGY
Data sources and limitations
The map and summary are generated from NOAA’s IBTrACS v04r01 archive, with provisional positions from the NHC operational best track; post-season analysis revises them. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive’s pressure source retained. Categories refer to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth’s 1:10m land data.
Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm’s center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.
Archive retrieved ; live tracks fetched
NOAA IBTrACS archive and Field documentation
Sources & methodology