Hurricane Simon Pounds Mexican Resorts and Vulnerable Coastal Towns

Hurricane Simon battered Mexico’s Pacific coast on Sunday, October 11, bringing powerful winds, heavy rainfall and flooding to resort destinations and vulnerable communities as authorities evacuated residents and urged people to seek shelter.

The Category 3 hurricane remained just offshore as it moved parallel to the coastline, threatening Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination in Jalisco state, and nearby communities where homes may be less able to withstand severe weather. The US National Hurricane Center reported sustained winds of about 120 mph (195 km/h), warning of dangerous storm surges, life-threatening flooding and mudslides.

In Manzanillo, residents waded through flooded streets while soldiers helped families remove water from their homes. Reuters reported damage to houses and flooding across parts of the affected coastline as heavy rain continued.

Authorities in Jalisco suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuating people from high-risk areas. Emergency shelters were opened, while security personnel patrolled streets and urged residents and visitors to stay indoors. Puerto Vallarta International Airport was also closed amid the worsening conditions.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents in coastal areas to follow official instructions, avoid unnecessary travel and remain in safe locations. Authorities placed 28 municipalities under the highest alert level, with another 93 under high alert, as emergency teams prepared for flooding and landslides.

Forecasters warned that some areas could receive exceptionally heavy rainfall, with isolated storm totals potentially reaching 30 inches in parts of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco. The combination of saturated ground, steep terrain and intense rainfall raised the risk of dangerous mudslides and overflowing rivers.

Although Simon had weakened from Category 4 strength to Category 3, officials cautioned that it remained dangerous. The storm was expected to move farther offshore before potentially turning back towards Mexico later in the week, according to the National Hurricane Center’s forecast reported by Reuters.

The hurricane has placed tourism, transport and local livelihoods under pressure along a stretch of coast that includes hotels, ports, fishing communities and smaller settlements. Authorities continued to monitor the storm’s movement and urged residents to prioritise safety as emergency operations progressed.

The full extent of the damage and any casualties remained unclear in the reports available on Sunday.