Hurricane Simon strengthened into a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour as it approached Mexico’s Pacific coast Sunday.
The National Hurricane Center defines a major hurricane as Category 3 or stronger, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Simon sits just short of Category 5 strength, which requires winds of 157 mph.
What Happened: Storm Strength And Path
On Saturday, Simon was positioned about 65 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, moving slowly northward at 5 mph. The hurricane center warned that heavy rainfall tied to Simon could total 10 to 20 inches across parts of southwestern Mexico, with some areas in Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states expected to see as much as 30 inches.
Officials cautioned that the rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas with steep terrain. The hurricane center also expects a dangerous storm surge along the coast near and east of wherever the storm’s center makes landfall, with large and destructive waves accompanying the surge.
What It Means For Coastal Communities And Tourists
Jalisco state suspended classes for Monday in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuating dozens of people from at-risk areas, according to CBS News. State officials also asked the tourism sector in Puerto Vallarta to make sure workers and visitors were settled into shelters or safe zones by Friday afternoon.
Jesús Gómez, who was handing out free samples of candied peanuts in Puerto Vallarta, told reporters he hoped the storm would spare the area. “Let’s hope it doesn’t hit us, right? That it doesn’t affect us,” he said. “We’ll be working as usual throughout the day, but when Civil Protection officials come and tell us we need to close, then we’ll close and take shelter until the storm passes.”
Canadian tourist Ed Currie said he and his wife still had five more days booked in Puerto Vallarta as the hurricane threat loomed. “Just stay in the hotel and look out the window hopefully,” Currie said. “I just don’t know what to expect.”
Background: An Active Pacific Season
Simon’s approach comes a week after Hurricane Polo struck Mexico as a Category 2 storm before moving into the southwestern United States, where it brought heavy flooding. The Pacific hurricane season has been notably active this year, a contrast to the Atlantic season, which only recently produced its first named hurricane, Isaias.
What’s Next
Jalisco’s suspension of classes applies to Monday across the 22 coastal municipalities, and evacuations of at-risk residents were underway as of Saturday. The National Hurricane Center continues to track Simon’s path along Mexico’s west-central coast, with rainfall, storm surge and wind impacts expected to be most severe near where the storm’s center comes ashore.
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