World · Latin America · 22 hrs ago
Category 4 Hurricane Simon heads toward Mexico’s Pacific coast
Hurricane Simon strengthened into a Category 4 storm over the Pacific Ocean off Mexico on Saturday.
It was about 185 kilometres south-southwest of Manzanillo, a major Pacific port, with winds near 240 kilometres per hour.
Forecasters expected it to reach or move just inland of Mexico’s west-central coast late Saturday or early Sunday.
A hurricane warning covered parts of the coast south of Puerto Vallarta, while a tropical storm watch applied farther south toward Lázaro Cárdenas.
The storm could bring 25 to 51 centimetres of rain, with some areas possibly receiving more, raising the risk of deadly floods and mudslides.
Authorities in Jalisco suspended classes in coastal municipalities, began evacuations in at-risk areas and urged tourism businesses to make sure people could reach shelters.
The storm could also bring a dangerous surge and destructive waves, and officials urged residents to finish preparations before landfall.
Hurricane Simon strengthened into a Category 4 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, with maximum sustained winds of about 240 km/h.
The storm threatened destructive winds, storm surges and life-threatening flooding as it approached Mexico’s west-central coast.
The US National Hurricane Center said Simon was expected to approach or move just inland of the coast late Saturday or early Sunday.
The agency forecast 10 to 20 inches of rain in parts of southwestern Mexico through Sunday, with isolated totals of up to 30 inches possible.
Authorities issued a hurricane warning for parts of the coast south of Puerto Vallarta and a tropical storm watch farther south.
- Who
- Hurricane Simon and communities along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
- What
- Simon strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane, threatening destructive winds, storm surges, flooding and mudslides.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026; it was expected to approach the coast late Saturday or early Sunday.
- Where
- Off Mexico’s Pacific coast, about 185 kilometres south-southwest of Manzanillo.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Simon has strengthened incredibly quickly, and that’s what makes storms like this so dangerous.
This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.
Hurricane Polo made landfall on the Baja California Peninsula as a Category 2 storm.
Businesses in Puerto Vallarta boarded up windows and placed sandbags as Simon approached.
Simon was reported as a Category 4 storm about 185 kilometres south-southwest of Manzanillo.
Simon was expected to approach or move just inland of Mexico’s west-central coast.
The storm was forecast to bring 10 to 20 inches of rain to parts of southwestern Mexico.
- Storm category
- Category 4
- Maximum sustained winds
- About 240 km/h
- Distance from Manzanillo
- About 185 km south-southwest
- Rainfall forecast
- 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm)
- Possible isolated rainfall
- Up to 30 inches (76 cm) in parts of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco
- Warning area
- Pacific coast south of Puerto Vallarta, including Manzanillo
Sources
Related news
‘El Junior’ arrested in Acapulco in case linked to ‘Los Rusos’
Pope Leo XIV to Have Surgery to Remove Early-Stage Lung Nodule
Mexico deploys more than 22,000 personnel as Hurricane Simon affects four states
Magnitude 7.7 earthquake damages buildings in Panama
Category 4 Hurricane Simon pounds Mexico’s Pacific coast
Three men convicted over 2024 murders of surfers in Mexico
Magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes Panama, prompting tsunami warnings
Sheinbaum urges Mexico's coastal residents to stay indoors as Hurricane Simon nears
US adds torture conspiracy charges against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores
Man killed by police gunfire in São Paulo after phone mistaken for gun
Magnitude 5.2 earthquake hits southern Peru coast, with no damage reported
