Lidia resulted in significant flooding, torrential rainfall and very powerful winds that severely damaged many structures, and the storm forced airport and school closings, along with the opening of 23 temporary shelters.

[b] As early as September 28, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) anticipated that a low pressure area would form south of Mexico, assessing a 20% chance of tropical cyclogenesis within seven days.

[3] Two days later, the NHC increased the potential for development to 70% – this was related to a tropical wave south of Mexico producing an area of thunderstorms, known as convection.

By that time, the thunderstorms had organized into curved rainbands, and the low pressure area had evolved into a well-defined circulation producing sustained winds of at least 40 mph (65 km/h).

Some computer models anticipated that the wind shear would remain strong enough to weaken the storm, while others predicted that it would intensify while moving toward the western coast of Mexico.

[14][15] On October 9, Lidia began its turn to the northeast, influenced by the approaching mid-level trough, which provided more favorable upper-level support.

[16] Late on October 9, the Hurricane Hunters flew into Lidia, observing a developing inner core of the cyclone, with a central barometric pressure of 985 mbar (29.1 inHg).

[19] It then rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane by 21:30 UTC on October 10,[20] making landfall two hours later near Las Peñitas in the Mexican state of Jalisco, just south of Puerto Vallarta, at peak intensity, with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h).

[33] Several businesses in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta shut down and boarded up windows and doors and used sandbags as flood barriers.

[34] Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport was also closed on October 11 as Lidia approached the area, and 12 flights were cancelled.

[42] Lidia's powerful winds uprooted nearly 960 trees across Puerto Vallarta; in response, a reforestation drive was initiated by the municipal government in November 2023.

[44] Jalisco's governor, Enrique Alfaro, estimated that Lidia caused losses worth MXN$1.4 billion (USD$77.6 million) in the state.