Hurricane Narda was a moderately strong tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain and strong winds to portions of Western Mexico in September 2025. The sixteenth named storm of the 2025 Pacific hurricane season,Narda formed from the combination of a tropical wave and an area of disturbed weather in a monsoon trough off the coast of southwestern Mexico. An area of low pressure began to form from the combination of the two. The low began to organize and became a tropical storm on September 21,offshore the coast of Guerrero. The system then began to strengthen while moving west-northwestward due to moving into an environment with warm sea surface temperatures. Narda then reached its peak as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105mph (165km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 970mbar (28.64inHg) on early on September 24. However,increasing wind shear caused the system to weaken to Category 1 hurricane status later that day. Narda maintained this intensity until September 28,and weakened to a tropical storm while turning northward. The storm continued to weaken before degenerating to a remnant low later that day. The low dissipated on October 1.
Despite remaining offshore,the outer rain bands of Narda caused significant flooding across portions of Western Mexico. Heavy rainfall flooded several homes and triggered numerous landslides. Damage was most severe in the state Chiapas,where the tropical wave that spawned Narda flooded over 1,338 homes and affected over 1,973 people. Overall,five people were killed - one in Oaxaca,one in Guerrero,two in Nayarit,and one in Jalisco. However,a specific damage toll is unknown.
Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity,according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Narda originated from a tropical wave crossed Central America on September 17-18 and an area of disturbed weather in a monsoon trough.[1] The National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring an area of low pressure south of southwestern Mexico on September 18.[2] The low began to quickly organize and was designated as Invest 97E late on September 19.[3] The low began to drift west-northwestward, just offshore the coast of southwestern Mexico.[4] The organization of the low was briefly impeded by strong wind shear.[5] However, the system began to move into a more conducive environment for strengthening and developed an elongated center of circulation along with 30-35 kt winds its northern side.[6] Thus, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Narda on September 21 at 18:00 UTC, 210mi (340km) south-southeast of Zihuatanejo.[1]
Initially, the system struggled to organize. East-northeasterly wind shear prevented Narda from developing well-defined convective banding features. A mid-level ridge over northern Mexico caused the storm to turn west-northwest, allowing the system to move into an environment with a more moist air mass and warmer sea surface temperatures.[7] Convective banding began to emerge around the center of the system.[8] Thunderstorms began to develop around the west-northwestern section of the storm.[9] An inner central core and cloud tops began to form.[10][11] The subtropical ridge north of the storm began to strengthen, causing Narda to turn due west.[12] Early on September 23, satellite imagery found that convection within the system began to expand on all quadrants of the storm, and thus, Narda was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane.[13] Early the next day, outer rain bands began to form around the storm and an eye began to emerge on satellite, causing the NHC to upgrade Narda to a Category 2 hurricane.[14][15] Six hours later, Narda then reached peak maximum sustained winds of 105mph (165km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 970mbar (28.64inHg).[1]
However, increasing east-northeasterly wind shear prevented any further strengthening.[16] The system began to slow its forward motion and its structure began to degrade.[17][18] Early the next day, Narda was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, but convection within the system continued to persist due to its well defined core and central dense overcast.[19][20] Convective banding from the southern end of the storm, a well-defined inner core, deep convection, warm sea surface temperatures allowed Narda to maintain its intensity.[21][22][23] On September 27, the system began to contend with dry air intrusion in its northwestern quadrant. The system continued to slow its forward motion while turning due north as the subtropical ridge to the north of storm began to erode.[23] Increasing wind shear, dry air, and cooler sea surface temperatures caused Narda begin a quick weakening trend.[24] Early the next day, Narda was downgraded to a tropical storm.[25] The system turned due north and convection within its center diminished and the cloud tops of the system began to warm.[26] Convection within the system collapsed and Narda degenerated to a remnant low on September 28 at 18:00 UTC.[27][1] The remnant low later dissipated on October 1, at 06:00 UTC.[1]
Impact
The tropical wave that spawned Narda caused flash flooding, mudslides, and power outages in Chiapas and El Salvador.[28][29][30][31] In the former, damage was reported across 32 municipalities and 25 communities.[32][33] Eleven bridges were damaged and a school was buried by a landslide. Rockslides damaged more than 26 sections of a road, leaving at least 21 communities isolated.[30][33] At least 1,338 homes were flooded, affecting more than 1,973 people and 465 families.[34][33] More than 240 people were evacuated from flooded areas.[35] More than 36 schools were damaged.[36] At least 20 landslides and five fallen trees were reported.[37][35] In Tapachula, a bridge partially collapsed, halting transportation to Mario Souza and isolating more than 100 communities.[38][39] The Tablazón Bridge on Mexican Federal Highway 200 collapsed, cutting off the route to Guatemala and leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. In Cacahoatán, more than 53 people were displaced.[40] In Huehuetán, flooding was exacerbated by the construction of a railway.[41] In Mapastepec, a middle school was buried by a landslide and the wall of an elementary school collapsed.[42][43] More than three communities were left without water following the storm.[43] Several cattle ranches were flooded. An elderly woman was rescued from her flooded home and flooding up to 60cm (2.0ft) was reported in some areas.[44] Two people were injured after their vehicle overturned when a bridge collapsed.[45] A man was reported trapped after the Novillero River overflowed.[46] At least three landslides were reported on the Unión Juárez–Cacahoatán highway, causing traffic disruption.[47] Two ecotourism centers were damaged.[48] A semi-trailer became stranded in a flooded road.[49] A middle school in Venustiano Carranza was converted into a shelter for those affected by the storm.[45]
Additionally, the outer rain bands of Narda caused flooding in several Mexican states on the Pacific coast. In Oaxaca, at least two rivers overflowed. A bridge was closed after being flooded. In Santa María Jacatepec, a 76-year-old man drowned after swept away by an overflowing river.[28] In Costa Chica Region of Guerrero, heavy rains caused river rises and high surf.[50] In Acapulco, flooding and rockslides were reported on roadways.[41][51][52] More than fifteen neighborhoods were flooded.[53] Fourteen boats capsized and six classes were suspended.[54] Several residents were evacuated after a landslide fell onto a housing complex. A wall collapsed due to heavy rains. In Barra Vieja, a man drowned after being swept away by an overflowing river.[55][41] In Chilapa de Álvarez, a landslide damaged eleven homes, affecting 26 families.[56] An elderly woman had to be evacuated from her flooded home.[57] Sewage systems were damaged as a result of the rains.[58] Crocodiles were sighted following the rains.[53] In the Tierra Caliente region of Guerrero, more than 20 homes were flooded. One vehicle was stranded in floodwaters.[59] Several public transportation routes to the Acapulco International Airport were disrupted as a result of the rains.[52] Crocodiles were sighted following the rains.[53]
In Uruapan, Michoacan, flooding, fallen trees, landslides, and stranded vehicles were reported.[60] In Acaponeta, Nayarit, at least six neighborhoods and 250 homes were flooded.[61][62] A record of 215mm (8.5in) of rainfall fell in a 24 hour period.[63] Damage was reported across seven municipalities, with most of it being localized in the northern portion of the state.[64] Landslides and flood damage were reported across seven municipalities, isolating several communities.[64][65] An elderly man was rescued from his flooded home.[66] More than 20 families fled to shelters.[67] In San Blas, a portion of a hill collapsed. A ford connecting Tuxpan and Peñas was flooded, halting traffic in and out of the area.[65] Dozens of families were displaced and a state of emergency was declared following the storm.[68] In Tepic, Nayarit, two people were killed after their home was buried in a landslide.[30] In Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, several vehicles were swept away by floodwaters.[69] A man was killed after being buried by a landslide.[70] Flooding up to 30cm (0.98ft) swept away several vehicles.[71] In Guadalajara, sinkholes and landslides were reported. An elderly woman was rescued after falling into a sinkhole.[72]
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