Hurricane Simon has strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm as it moves towards Mexico’s Pacific coast, with forecasters warning of life-threatening flooding, mudslides and a dangerous storm surge.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Simon had maximum sustained winds of 155mph on Saturday, just below the 157mph threshold for a Category 5 hurricane. It was expected to approach Mexico’s west-central coast on Sunday as a major hurricane.
Simon was about 65 miles south-south-west of Manzanillo on Saturday and moving slowly northwards at 5mph. Forecasters said the storm could weaken rapidly if its core moved fully onshore after landfall.
Rainfall of between 10 and 20 inches was expected across parts of south-western Mexico, with up to 30 inches possible in some areas of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco.
“This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain,” the hurricane centre said. It urged residents to complete preparations immediately, before conditions deteriorated.
The agency also warned of a dangerous storm surge along the immediate coast near and to the east of where the hurricane’s centre makes landfall. Large and destructive waves were expected to accompany the surge.
In Jalisco, classes were suspended on Monday in 22 coastal municipalities, while dozens of people were being evacuated from areas considered at risk. Authorities also asked hotels and other businesses in the popular resort of Puerto Vallarta to ensure workers and visitors could reach shelters or safe areas.
Shops, hotels and convenience stores in Puerto Vallarta were boarding up their windows on Saturday as overcast skies hung over the city and relatively few people walked its streets.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t hit us, right? That it doesn’t affect us,” said Jesús Gómez, who was handing out free samples of candied peanuts outside a shop. “We’ll be working as usual throughout the day, but when Civil Protection officials come and tell us we need to close, then we’ll close and take shelter until the storm passes.”
Canadian tourist Ed Currie said the hurricane had not yet disrupted the remaining five days of his stay in Puerto Vallarta, although he was unsure what to expect. “Just stay in the hotel and look out the window hopefully,” he said.
Simon follows Hurricane Polo, which struck Mexico last week as a Category 2 storm before reaching the south-western United States and bringing heavy flooding. The Pacific hurricane season has been particularly active compared with the Atlantic, which saw its first named hurricane of the season this week.
