Cabo Boat Tours Canceled, Port Closed & Dangerous Swells: Hurricane Flossie Far Off Coast

If you were planning a boat trip to the famous Arch today, your plans have changed. As of this morning, the Port Captain in Cabo San Lucas has officially closed the port to all small craft navigation, effectively canceling all tourist boat tours, fishing charters, and water taxi services until further notice.

The reason isn’t gray skies or local rain; it’s an invisible but powerful danger churning hundreds of miles out in the Pacific Ocean. The culprit is Hurricane Flossie, now a major Category 2 storm. While its current path is not forecast to make a direct hit on Los Cabos, it is close enough to send life-threatening swells toward the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula.

Here at The Cabo Sun, we’re breaking down the latest official forecast from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and explaining what these impacts mean for your vacation. This is not a time to panic, but it is a time to be smart and, above all, respect the power of the ocean.

The Official Forecast: A Distant Storm with a Powerful Punch

According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Flossie has strengthened to a Category 2 storm with sustained winds over 100 mph. However, its forecast track keeps the most destructive, hurricane-force winds far offshore, passing well south of Los Cabos on Thursday and Friday.

The Real Danger for Cabo: “Mar de Fondo”

The most significant and immediate threat to Los Cabos from this storm is not the wind, but the water. A powerful hurricane acts like a giant engine, sending out massive waves, or “long-period swells,” across the ocean. Locals call this phenomenon mar de fondo, or “ground swell.”

Think of it like the ripples from a giant stone dropped hundreds of miles away. By the time those ripples reach the coastline, they have grown into huge, powerful waves that can break with surprising and dangerous force, even on a perfectly sunny day. These swells create life-threatening surf and powerful, invisible rip currents that can pull even the strongest swimmer out to sea. This is why you will see Red Flags or even Black Flags flying on all area beaches, including Medano. All ocean swimming should be considered extremely dangerous and must be avoided.

What to Expect for Wind and Rain

While the ocean impacts are being felt now, the effects of wind and rain are expected to arrive later. The outer bands of Hurricane Flossie will move across the region on Thursday and Friday. During this time, travelers should expect periods of rain and gusty winds.

This will likely mean a couple of days with not so perfect weather for outdoor plans. However, widespread, destructive winds are NOT in the current forecast for the Los Cabos area.

How to Adapt Your Cabo Vacation

There is absolutely no reason to panic. The key is to simply shift your plans for a few days. With boat tours and beach days off the table, this is the perfect opportunity to:

• Explore the art galleries and boutiques of historic downtown San José del Cabo.
• Indulge in a spa day at your resort.
• Discover some of the world-class restaurants away from the immediate coastline.

The forecast will be updated continuously. Stay dry, stay informed, and most importantly, stay out of the water.