Hurricane Simon battered west-central Mexico’s Pacific coast early Monday, bringing major hurricane winds, heavy rain, and severe flooding risks near Puerto Vallarta as the dangerous storm tracked offshore toward vulnerable coastal communities.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, Simon’s maximum sustained winds weakened slightly to 115 mph, placing it just above the threshold for a Category 3 storm. Despite this slight decrease in wind speeds, forecasters warned that the system remained extremely dangerous as its center moved near Cabo Corrientes and threatened the Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, and Sinaloa.
Impacts on Coastal Communities and Puerto Vallarta
Early Monday, Simon’s eye was located about 50 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes. It moved northwest at approximately 5 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 15 miles from the center. Tropical-storm-force winds reached up to 60 miles, affecting the entire strip between Mexico’s western coastline and the Sierra Madre mountains.
In Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, torrential rainfall triggered immediate flooding. Residents waded through waist-deep water as emergency responders and military personnel assisted families in clearing flooded homes. Popular tourist areas experienced temporary airport closures, business shutdowns, and strict orders for residents and visitors to seek immediate shelter.
“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,” said Philippe Papin, a senior hurricane center specialist. “They’re also getting very heavy rainfall associated with the storm that’s likely going to produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides.”
Rainfall Totals and Ongoing Threat Levels
Meteorologists reported that Simon was forecast to drop an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain across Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sinaloa through Thursday. Isolated maximum storm totals could reach up to 30 inches in parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. Authorities emphasized that these heavy downpours pose severe risks of life-threatening flash floods and devastating mudslides in mountainous and steep terrains.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged citizens across the impacted states to remain indoors and follow strict civil protection guidelines until official notifications declare the danger has passed. Local authorities suspended classes across dozens of coastal municipalities and accelerated evacuations in low-lying zones to prevent casualties as the storm continues its erratic path along the Pacific corridor.
