Hurricane Simon Approaches Mexico with Category 4 Strength

Hurricane Simon has intensified into a Category 4 storm, with winds reaching up to 155 miles per hour as it heads toward Mexico’s Pacific coast. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported the development on Saturday, indicating that Simon is nearing a Category 5 classification, which requires winds of 157 mph.

Simon is expected to approach Mexico’s west-central coast as a major hurricane on Sunday. This classification includes storms that are Category 3 or higher, featuring winds of at least 111 mph. Forecasters warn that if Simon’s core reaches the shore, the storm could weaken rapidly.

Heavy rainfall is predicted, with parts of southwestern Mexico possibly experiencing up to 30 inches in Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. “This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain,” the center cautioned in a bulletin, urging residents to prepare promptly as tropical storm conditions began on Saturday afternoon.

A man boards up a shop as Hurricane Simon approaches Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Oct. 10, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano

By Saturday, Simon was about 65 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, moving northward at 5 mph. The hurricane center stressed the need for swift preparations to safeguard lives and property in the warning areas before conditions worsen later in the night.

The Jalisco state government suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities for Monday and began evacuating residents from vulnerable areas. The tourism sector in Puerto Vallarta was also asked to accommodate workers and tourists in shelters or safe zones by Friday afternoon. Businesses, including convenience stores and hotels, were securing their premises by boarding up windows.

Local resident Jesús Gómez expressed hope that the hurricane would not cause significant harm. He continued working, handing out candied peanut samples, but planned to close once instructed by Civil Protection authorities.

The hurricane center also predicted a dangerous storm surge along the immediate coast, coupled with large destructive waves.

Canadian tourist Ed Currie, staying in Puerto Vallarta, mentioned that the hurricane had not altered his plans yet, opting to remain in the hotel.

The Pacific hurricane season has seen high activity; Simon follows Hurricane Polo, which affected Mexico as a Category 2 storm last week, also causing flooding in the southwestern U.S.