Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum used her official X account on Sunday to call on residents of the Pacific coast to stay indoors until authorities declare the danger over. The appeal covered the coastal municipalities of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacán as Hurricane Simon, a Category 4 system with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 kph), moved toward the west‑central shoreline.
Storm track and warnings
At 9 a.m. local time, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported Simon was about 65 miles (105 km) west‑northwest of the port city of Manzanillo in Colima state. The storm was traveling north‑northwest at roughly 7 mph (11 kph), with its center positioned about 85 miles (140 km) south‑southeast of Cabo Corrientes in neighboring Jalisco.
The NHC forecast that Simon would pass very near the coast later on Sunday and remain close on Monday, though uncertainty remained about whether the eye would cross inland or stay offshore. Even without a direct landfall, the agency warned of dangerous storm surges, large destructive waves and damaging winds along portions of the west‑central coast.
Local preparations
Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) placed 28 municipalities in Jalisco and Colima under the highest cyclone alert level and another 93 municipalities under a high alert level. Authorities have opened emergency shelters in threatened coastal communities and suspended non‑essential activities.
Puerto Vallarta’s international airport was temporarily closed as a precaution. Military personnel, emergency workers and civil‑protection teams were deployed to vulnerable areas to assist with evacuations and to provide aid where needed.
Potential impacts
The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall through Monday, raising the risk of life‑threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in mountainous terrain. Residents were urged to stay off the streets, follow civil‑protection instructions and avoid unnecessary travel.
Simon follows closely on the heels of Hurricane Polo, which struck Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula a week earlier as a Category 2 system, toppling trees, utility poles and flooding streets.
Official response
President Sheinbaum emphasized that precautionary evacuations to safer areas were ongoing and that the public should remain sheltered until officials confirm the danger has passed. She highlighted the importance of heeding civil‑protection guidance to protect families and preserve life.
As the storm progresses, Mexican authorities will continue to monitor conditions and update alerts as needed, aiming to minimize damage and safeguard the well‑being of coastal residents.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
