Hurricane Simon lashes Mexico's Pacific coast, pounds resorts and towns

Hurricane Simon weakened from a major Category 3 to Category 2 as its eye stayed just offshore. It still brought dangerous winds, flooding rain, storm surge, and mudslide threats to west-central Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta and nearby coastal communities in Jalisco faced the strongest impacts. Its winds and rain reached between Mexico’s Pacific coast and the Sierra Madre mountains. Evacuations and shelter measures began.

Simon also affected or threatened Colima, Nayarit, Sinaloa, and Michoacan. By Monday night, its center was about 85 miles west of Cabo Corrientes, moving west-northwest at about 3 mph. Forecasters expected it to remain a hurricane through midweek, then weaken inland. Rainfall totals could reach 30 inches in parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco, making flooding and mudslides a continuing danger.

A Category 2 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 96 to 110 miles per hour. It can cause dangerous damage, flooding, and power failures, so its label does not describe every hazard. Hurricane categories are determined by the Saffir-Simpson scale, which uses only maximum sustained wind speed.

Simon shows how a storm’s category can change quickly. It had previously reached Category 3 strength, then weakened below the 111-mph threshold and became Category 2. Forecasters still warned that Simon could strengthen, while rain, storm surge, mudslides, and flooding remained serious threats.

On Monday night, Simon’s eye was about 85 miles west of Cabo Corrientes. Hurricane-force winds extended 10 miles, while tropical-storm-force winds reached 45 miles. The storm was forecast to remain a hurricane through midweek, with up to 30 inches possible in parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco.

Hurricane Simon was a broad, dangerous storm, even after weakening to Category 2. Its strongest hurricane-force winds reached 10 miles from the center, while tropical-storm winds extended 45 miles.

That meant the entire area between Mexico’s western coast and the Sierra Madre mountains could feel the storm. Near Puerto Vallarta, dangerous winds and rain threatened flooding, while mountainous terrain increased the risk of mudslides.

Simon was expected to drop 2 to 4 inches of additional rain across Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sinaloa, with some areas reaching 8 inches. Isolated totals could reach 30 inches in Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. It was also forecast to bring 3 to 5 inches, or more locally, to the U.S. Southern Plains.

Simon remained dangerous because its category describes only its strongest sustained winds. It does not capture flooding, landslides, storm surge, waves, or how widely damaging weather spreads. A storm can weaken by wind speed while these threats continue.

For example, Simon's eye stayed just offshore near Puerto Vallarta, where its strongest winds and rain were expected to persist. Hurricane-force winds reached 10 miles from the center, while tropical-storm winds reached 45 miles. Heavy rain could trigger flooding and mudslides, especially on steep ground.

The hurricane center forecast another 2 to 4 inches, with up to 8 inches, across four Mexican states. Isolated totals could reach 30 inches in Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. Simon could also strengthen again and remain a hurricane through midweek, so residents and visitors still needed shelter and evacuation guidance.

Storm surge pushes seawater inland, flooding coastal streets, homes, and businesses. Extreme rain adds water faster than drains, rivers, and soil can absorb it. On steep ground, saturated soil can slide downhill, burying roads, homes, and people.

When Hurricane Simon stayed near Mexico’s west-central coast, officials warned of catastrophic storm surge and life-threatening flooding. Rain could trigger mudslides in higher terrain, while strong winds and waves made evacuation and rescue more dangerous. Puerto Vallarta closed its waterfront and evacuated at-risk residents.

Simon was forecast to add 2 to 4 inches of rain across four states, with some places reaching 8 inches. Isolated totals could reach 30 inches in Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. These conditions can isolate communities, overwhelm roads and drainage, and worsen existing floods through Thursday. Residents should shelter, avoid roads, and follow civil protection orders until danger passes.

Mexican authorities treated Simon as a public-safety emergency, while residents, hotels, and tourists faced different choices. Officials focused on evacuation, closures, warnings, and sheltering people before flooding, winds, and mudslides worsened.

In Puerto Vallarta, National Guard vehicles patrolled, police closed the waterfront, and officers urged people to shelter. Jalisco suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities and evacuated at-risk residents. Hotels were told to accommodate workers and visitors in shelters or safe zones, while many hotel guests were evacuated. Residents bought nonperishable food; one worker, Víctor Martínez, stayed home after transportation stopped. Tourists arriving at the resort area encountered closures and evacuation measures.

The responses reflected different responsibilities and vulnerabilities. Authorities coordinated protection, residents prepared or sheltered, and hotels managed displaced guests and staff. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people in four states to stay sheltered and avoid public roads. Up to eight inches of additional rain was forecast. Isolated totals could reach 30 inches, making these precautions vital against flooding and mudslides.

Hurricanes are heat engines powered by warm ocean water. Water evaporates, then rising moist air releases heat as clouds form. This lowers pressure and draws in more air, while Earth’s rotation makes winds spiral. Warm water and light winds aloft strengthen storms; cool water, dry air, land, or strong upper winds weaken them. Larger weather patterns steer their direction.

Simon illustrates this process. It dropped from Category 3 to Category 2 when maximum winds fell below 111 mph. Monday night, its eye was 85 miles west of Cabo Corrientes, moving west-northwest at about 3 mph. Forecast steering patterns were expected to turn it midweek, though forecasters warned it could strengthen again.

Simon remained dangerous despite weakening. Hurricane-force winds extended 10 miles, and tropical-storm winds reached 45 miles. Rainfall could add 2 to 4 inches, with isolated totals near 30 inches in Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. Flooding, mudslides, and storm surge remained serious threats, so wind speed alone cannot measure safety.