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Hurricane Simon weakened from Category 4 to Category 3 off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Monday, but continued to threaten western parts of the country with heavy rainfall, strong winds and dangerous waves, according to Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN).
The storm’s centre was 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Cabo Corrientes, on the coast of Jalisco state, and 175 kilometres (109 miles) west-northwest of Manzanillo in neighbouring Colima, the SMN said.
Simon had maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometres per hour (127 mph), with gusts of up to 250 kph (155 mph). It was moving northwest at 7 kph (4.3 mph).
Forecasts called for very heavy rainfall in Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa, raising the risk of flooding, landslides and rising river levels. Along the Jalisco coast, wind gusts could reach 100 kph, while waves were expected to reach 4 to 5 metres (13 to 16 feet), authorities warned.
A hurricane wind warning remained in effect from Punta San Telmo on the Pacific coast of Michoacan state to El Roblito in Nayarit. The warning also covered the Pacific Marias Islands.
The SMN said a hurricane wind watch extended from El Roblito to Bahia Tempehuaya, along the coast of Sinaloa in northwestern Mexico.
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents of coastal areas in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacan to remain sheltered until authorities officially declare the danger over.
Sheinbaum said precautionary evacuations to safer areas were continuing and stressed that protecting lives remained the priority. In a post on “X”, she urged residents to follow civil protection recommendations and avoid travelling on public roads.
