Hurricane Simon Strikes Mexico's Pacific Coast, Weakens to Category 3
Hurricane Simon is impacting Mexico's Pacific coast with strong winds and heavy rain, prompting high alerts and evacuations in vulnerable areas.
Highlights
- Hurricane Simon is tracking along Mexico's Pacific coastline, bringing significant rainfall and powerful winds.
- Although it has diminished to a Category 3 storm, Simon is still forecast to be potent as it nears the coast.
- Twenty-eight municipalities in Jalisco and Colima states are under the highest cyclone alert, with an additional 93 on high alert.
- Puerto Vallarta International Airport has been temporarily closed, and emergency shelters are operational.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents in coastal areas to remain indoors for safety.
Details
The U.S. National Hurricane Center anticipates Hurricane Simon will remain a strong storm as it passes near west-central Mexico's coast tonight. The hurricane is expected to move further out to sea on Monday before shifting its course back toward the Mexican coast by Wednesday. Civil protection advisories indicate that in addition to the 28 municipalities at the highest alert level, 93 other municipalities are also under a high alert status.
Simon's core is approaching the Puerto Vallarta region, where the most destructive winds and rains are expected from midnight through Monday morning. Experts suggest that the entire zone stretching from Mexico's western shore to the Sierra Madre mountain range could experience effects. In Manzanillo, on Sunday morning, residents navigated flooded streets, and soldiers assisted in rescuing people from the overnight deluge. A local resident, Cecilia Palomar, told Reuters that her home was completely submerged, stating, "The beds, the refrigerators, the stoves, all the furniture got wet. The whole house flooded."
Why it matters
Hurricane Simon poses a direct threat to significant tourist destinations and populated areas along Mexico's Pacific coast. The risks of severe winds, flooding, and landslides are particularly concerning for residents in more fragile homes, especially in rural areas. This situation could lead to substantial and lasting impacts on the region's infrastructure and quality of life, presenting a significant challenge for emergency response teams and local governments.