The Mexican community of Cabo Corrientes is at risk of a direct hit as Hurricane Simon, a Category 4 storm, approaches the coast of Jalisco. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has advised residents along the Pacific Ocean to stay indoors as the hurricane's strong winds and heavy rains impact coastal areas. As of Sunday, the hurricane's eye was moving offshore of Mexico’s Jalisco state, with winds reaching at least 240 km/h (150 mph). Torrential rain has already affected residents living between the Sierra Madre mountain range and the ocean, with communities in hilly and mountainous areas warned to prepare for mudslides.
Simon reached Category 4 strength on Saturday, part of an unusually active Pacific hurricane season. In a post on the social media platform X, Sheinbaum urged residents of coastal municipalities in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, and Michoacan to remain sheltered until authorities declare that the danger has passed.
The United States’ National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a midday advisory warning that Simon could produce additional rainfall totals of 8 to 16 inches (20 to 41 cm) over portions of southwestern Mexico, with precipitation totals as high as 76 cm (30 inches) possible in parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco until Monday.
While it is unclear if the storm will make landfall, Cabo Corrientes currently faces the greatest risk of a direct hit. Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) has placed 28 municipalities in Jalisco and Colima under its highest cyclone alert level, with another 93 municipalities under a high alert level. Classes have been suspended in the affected areas, and evacuation efforts are underway.
Businesses in tourist destinations like Puerto Vallarta have boarded up windows and placed sandbags at entrances in preparation for the storm. Jalisco’s Governor Pablo Navarro warned that the hurricane is creating high-risk marine conditions along the coast, with waves reaching as high as eight meters (26 feet). He shared video on social media showing the storm surge affecting sidewalks and flooding waterways, urging residents to heed official instructions and take precautions to ensure their safety.