Hurricane Simon, a Category 3 storm, moved parallel to Mexico’s Pacific shoreline on Sunday, keeping its eye just offshore while unleashing powerful winds and torrential rain on the region between the Sierra Madre mountains and the ocean.
The storm’s most intense impacts were expected around midnight near Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination in Jalisco, and were forecast to continue into Monday morning. Although the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Simon’s maximum sustained winds had weakened to 115 mph (185 kph) late Sunday, the system remained a dangerous hurricane.
Areas at risk
By late Sunday the eye of Simon was moving northwest about 45 miles (75 km) south of Cabo Corrientes, a point on the southern tip of Bahía de Banderas. Senior hurricane specialist Philippe Papin warned that this westernmost tip of mainland Mexico was the most likely area for a direct hit.
Hurricane‑force winds extend up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center, while tropical‑storm‑force winds reach out 60 miles (95 km). This means the entire stretch from the coast to the Sierra Madre could experience severe conditions.
“We’re expecting catastrophic wind and life‑threatening storm surge impacts along that west‑central coast of Mexico where the hurricane warning is currently in effect,” Papin said. “Heavy rainfall will likely produce life‑threatening flooding and mudslides in higher‑terrain areas, and there will be significant swells.”
Rainfall forecasts
The hurricane center projected an additional 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) of rain across the states of Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa through early Thursday, with some locations potentially receiving up to 8 inches (20 cm). Isolated totals of up to 30 inches (76 cm) were possible in parts of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco, raising the risk of severe flooding and mudslides.
Local response
As Simon approached, National Guard vehicles patrolled streets in Puerto Vallarta and police used megaphones to remind the few joggers, dog‑walkers and cyclists that the waterfront area was closed and to seek shelter. Not everyone complied.
Jalisco state suspended classes on Friday and Monday in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuating residents from at‑risk zones, urging the tourism sector to ensure workers and visitors were accommodated in shelters or safe zones.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on X, urging people in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacán to remain sheltered until officials declare the danger over. She emphasized following civil‑protection recommendations and avoiding travel on public roads.
“Precautionary evacuation efforts to safe zones are ongoing; the priority is our safety,” she wrote.
Community perspective
Hotel worker Víctor Martínez described how the community’s memory of a Category 5 hurricane in 2002 helped shape current precautions. “It happened to us before. People didn’t expect it. Now we’re different. Precautions are being taken,” he said.
Despite the warnings, some tourists continued to arrive. Visitors Ricardo Ramírez and Brenda Villarreal, on a four‑day vacation from Guadalajara, found the boardwalk closed and police urging shelter. “We don’t know the extent of the danger yet,” Villarreal said.
Authorities continue to monitor Simon’s path, urging residents and visitors to stay informed and heed official instructions as the storm moves along the coast.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
