Hurricane Simon Intensifies to Category 4 as it Approaches Mexico
Maximum sustained winds reach 145 mph, prompting evacuations and class suspensions in coastal areas.
Hurricane Simon strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm on Saturday, with maximum sustained winds reaching 145 mph (230 kph) as it barreled toward Mexico’s Pacific coast. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami issued a bulletin urging residents to take immediate action to prepare for landfall, expected late Saturday or early Sunday.
Simon is forecast to bring significant rainfall to southwestern Mexico, potentially concentrated along the coasts of Jalisco, Michoacan, Colima, and Nayarit. The NHC warned that this rainfall could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in mountainous regions.
In response to the approaching storm, Jalisco authorities suspended classes on Friday and Monday in 22 coastal municipalities. Evacuations of residents from at-risk areas have begun, and the tourism sector in Puerto Vallarta, a popular destination for international visitors, was instructed to ensure all workers and tourists were safely relocated to shelters or secure zones by Friday afternoon.