Hurricane Simon moved toward Mexico’s Pacific coast on Friday, with forecasters predicting it would strengthen into a Category 4 storm before making landfall. The system posed a significant threat to the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding state of Jalisco.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Simon was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph (90 mph) early on Friday. It was traveling northwest at 7 kph (5 mph) and was expected to shift northward by early Saturday, bringing hurricane‑force winds to parts of the central and southwest coast within 36 hours. Analysts warned that the storm could intensify rapidly, reaching Category 4 status—winds of 210–250 kph (130–156 mph)—before it struck the coast.
In response, Jalisco authorities suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuating residents from high‑risk areas. The state’s civil protection director, Sergio Ramírez, urged that “if we let our guard down and try to come up with a last‑minute action plan, it is highly likely that lives will be lost.” Governor Pablo Lemus called for constant vigilance, noting the hurricane’s “highly erratic behavior” and warning that heavy rains would hit the coast from Friday through Monday. Officials also advised the tourism sector in Puerto Vallarta to ensure workers and visitors had access to shelters or safe zones by Friday afternoon. U.S. forecasters projected 20–38 centimetres (8–15 inches) of rain across southwestern Mexico, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 63 centimetres (25 inches), raising the risk of flooding and mudslides.
The U.S. Embassy issued warnings against entering the water or walking on beaches, urging travelers to heed local authorities’ guidance. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Rachel was expected to reach Baja California, northwestern Mexico, and Southern California over the weekend, bringing heavy rain despite weakening winds of 95 kph (60 mph). The season’s Pacific tropical‑storm activity has been above average, largely due to a strong El Niño, a phenomenon that typically suppresses Atlantic storm activity but has coincided with the development of Hurricane Isaias in the Gulf of Mexico.
