Hurricane Simon Threatens Mexico’s Pacific Coast

Hurricane Simon was moving along Mexico’s west-central Pacific coast early Monday as a dangerous Category 3 storm, with its center just offshore near Cabo Corrientes and approaching the Puerto Vallarta area. Its sustained winds had weakened to 115 mph, but the National Hurricane Center expected Simon to remain a hurricane through midweek before weakening more rapidly after moving inland. Officials warned of catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall, flooding and mudslides, especially in steep coastal terrain. The center forecast 2 to 4 inches of additional rain in parts of Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa, with isolated totals potentially reaching 30 inches in Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco. The storm was also expected to bring several inches of rain to the U.S. Southern Plains later in the week. Authorities took precautionary measures as the hurricane approached. Jalisco suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities, began evacuations in at-risk areas and urged tourism businesses to ensure workers and visitors had shelter. National Guard vehicles patrolled Puerto Vallarta, while police used megaphones to clear people from the waterfront and direct them to safety. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents in affected states to shelter, follow civil protection guidance and avoid road travel. The article describes contrasting responses among residents and visitors. Hotel worker Víctor Martínez said people were taking the threat more seriously after a devastating hurricane struck the region in 2002. Some tourists, however, were still arriving and said they had not understood the danger or prepared for the situation. Simon followed another recent Pacific storm, Hurricane Polo, and came amid an active Pacific hurricane season.

Hurricane Simon battered Mexico’s Pacific coast on Sunday while moving parallel to the shoreline, although it had weakened to a Category 3 storm. The US National Hurricane Center said further weakening was expected, but Simon would remain a strong hurricane as it passed near west-central Mexico. The storm was forecast to move farther offshore on Monday before turning back toward the coast on Wednesday. Authorities placed 28 municipalities in Jalisco and Colima under the highest cyclone alert level, with another 93 under high alert. The storm’s center approached Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, where damaging winds and heavy rain were expected around midnight and into Monday morning. Officials and forecasters warned that impacts could extend inland toward the Sierra Madre mountains, including life-threatening storm surge, flooding and mudslides. In Manzanillo, residents encountered flooded streets on Sunday morning, and soldiers helped rescue people after overnight rainfall. Resident Cecilia Palomar said floodwaters had soaked the contents of her home. She also described moving her elderly mother to higher ground despite her reluctance to leave home. Puerto Vallarta International Airport was temporarily closed, non-essential activities were suspended, and emergency shelters were established in threatened coastal communities. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents in coastal areas of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacan to stay indoors. The article notes that Simon followed Hurricane Polo, which had struck the Baja California Peninsula days earlier as a Category 2 storm, damaging power lines and flooding streets.

Hurricane Simon was pounding Mexico’s Pacific coast as a dangerous Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. Its center tracked just offshore toward the Puerto Vallarta area, where damaging winds and heavy rain were expected from around midnight Sunday through Monday morning. The National Hurricane Center warned that the storm could bring catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge, flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep coastal terrain. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 15 miles from Simon’s center, while tropical-storm-force winds reached as far as 60 miles. Forecasters expected additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches across parts of Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa through early Thursday, with some areas receiving up to 8 inches. Isolated storm totals could reach 30 inches in parts of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco. The storm threatened both Puerto Vallarta’s tourist areas and nearby communities where homes may be less able to withstand severe weather. Authorities closed public areas, suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities, evacuated people from at-risk locations and arranged shelter for residents, workers and visitors. National Guard vehicles patrolled Puerto Vallarta, while police used megaphones to urge people to leave the waterfront and take shelter. President Claudia Sheinbaum told residents in four states to remain sheltered, follow civil-protection guidance and avoid road travel until officials declared the danger over. Some residents said the region’s experience with a devastating Category 5 hurricane in 2002 had made people more attentive to precautions. Still, some visitors arriving for vacations said they had not understood the danger and encountered police directing people to shelter. The article portrays a region bracing for a severe storm while officials try to protect residents and tourists from its potentially deadly effects.