Hurricane Simon Downgraded to Category 2, Continues to Batter Mexico's Pacific Coast with Heavy Rain and Winds

Hurricane Simon has weakened to a Category 2 storm, packing sustained winds of 105 mph as it moves parallel to Mexico’s west coast, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Forecasters anticipate the storm will maintain winds near 100 mph upon its projected landfall on Thursday, though the precise location and timing remain subject to change due to the complexity of its track forecast.

The hurricane has been unleashing heavy rainfall and powerful winds across the region. In Mexico’s southwestern Guerrero state, an elderly individual has died, as confirmed by Mexico’s national Civil Protection coordinator during a press conference attended by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. President Sheinbaum stated that the hurricane, which has posed a threat to coastal communities and popular tourist destinations along Mexico’s Pacific Coast since Sunday, has resulted in “minor” damage in the affected areas. She noted, “The place where there may have been greater damage, although it was not as expected, is Guerrero. There was some damage in Colima, and [the effects of Tropical Storm] Rachel in Baja California, where there were greater impacts.”

Early Monday, the hurricane brought significant rain and strong winds to parts of Jalisco’s coast, including Puerto Vallarta, a well-known resort city frequented by US tourists. Conditions are expected to improve by Monday morning as Simon gradually weakens and drifts northwest just offshore. The international airport in Puerto Vallarta has suspended operations and is scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m. local time on Tuesday, as reported by Pacific Airport Group (GAP).

Laura Velázquez Alzúa, the national coordinator of Mexico’s Civil Protection Agency (CNPC), informed reporters on Sunday that despite the hurricane not having made landfall yet, it remains “very close to the Mexican coast.” Velázquez indicated that Simon’s impacts—including “strong winds, high waves, and storm surge,” particularly along the northern coast of Jalisco state—will persist through Monday. However, rainfall is predicted to decrease during the day, according to Fabián Vázquez Romaña, the head of Mexico’s National Meteorological Service.

NHC forecasts suggest that Simon’s winds and rain will also affect coastal areas of Nayarit state on Monday and parts of Sinaloa state on Tuesday. By Tuesday afternoon, Simon is expected to shift towards the northeast and begin moving inland towards southern Sinaloa. The Nayarit coast might experience one to two inches of rain, while the state’s islands could receive over 12 inches as Simon passes in close proximity Monday night into early Tuesday. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are anticipated along portions of Sinaloa’s coast, with the most severely impacted areas potentially receiving more than 12 inches as Simon approaches on Thursday. Dangerous flash flooding is a possibility in these regions, and life-threatening landslides could occur at higher elevations. The hurricane’s most intense winds, capable of toppling trees and power lines, are expected in coastal areas.

Over the weekend, President Sheinbaum urged residents in the states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, and Nayarit to seek shelter “until an official announcement that the danger has passed” following warnings from the CNPC about “exceptional rainfall” and “intense winds” in those states. Nonessential activities have been halted, and precautionary evacuations are ongoing, Sheinbaum confirmed on Sunday. Federal authorities are actively working to restore power in some areas, including Acapulco, a coastal city in Mexico’s Guerrero state that suffered devastation from Hurricane Otis three years prior. Laura Sharman and Uriel Blanco contributed to this report.