Simon, a Category 2 hurricane, churns up the Pacific coast, heading for Puerto Vallarta

On Monday, Hurricane Simon continued its slow movement off Mexico's Pacific coast, posing a threat to coastal communities, particularly those near Puerto Vallarta. The storm was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, although it still boasted gusts of up to 135 mph (220 km/h). As of 6 a.m., Hurricane Simon was situated about 80 kilometers west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, roughly 120 km southwest of Punta Mita, Nayarit.

Meteorologists forecast that Simon's damaging winds and heavy rainfall would intensify near Puerto Vallarta, urging residents to take protective measures and prepare for possible evacuations. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that hurricane-force winds extended up to 15 miles (30 km) from the storm's center, while tropical-storm-force winds extended up to 60 miles (95 km) from it.

Simon was expected to continue its northwestward movement along the coast for two more days before turning northeast and approaching the Mexican coast late on Wednesday. With maximum sustained winds near 105 knots, the storm generated swells that posed a life-threatening risk to surfers and swimmers in southwestern and west-central Mexico. Waves up to 5 meters (16 feet) high were observed along the Jalisco coast, while Nayarit and Sinaloa experienced waves ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 meters (11 feet) high.

Heavy rainfall was forecast for parts of Jalisco and Nayarit on Monday and Tuesday, with similar rainfall expected in Sinaloa on Wednesday and Thursday. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents in the affected states to stay informed and adhere to Civil Protection recommendations, as life-threatening flooding and mudslides were possible.

The National Meteorological Service issued hurricane warnings for areas from Playa Pérula, Jalisco, to El Roblito, Nayarit, including the Islas Marías, and hurricane watches from El Roblito, Nayarit, to Bahía Tempehuaya, Sinaloa.