Hurricane Simon Strengthens to Category 4, Threatens Mexico’s Pacific Coast

October 10, 2026 / CBS/AP

Hurricane Simon has intensified into a Category 4 storm as it moves towards Mexico’s Pacific coast. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported Saturday that Simon’s maximum sustained winds have reached 155 miles per hour. It is expected to approach Mexico’s west-central coast on Sunday as a major hurricane, classified as Category 3 or higher, with winds of at least 111 mph.

On Saturday night, Simon was close to a Category 5 designation, needing maximum sustained winds of 157 mph to qualify. Forecasts indicate that Simon could weaken quickly if its core moves entirely onshore after landfall. The hurricane might bring between 10 to 20 inches of rain in parts of southwestern Mexico, with areas in Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco receiving up to 30 inches.

A man boards up a shop as Hurricane Simon approaches Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Oct. 10, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano

The National Hurricane Center warned that this rainfall could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrains. Residents have been urged to act immediately as tropical storm conditions began Saturday afternoon. At that time, Simon was located about 65 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, moving slowly northward at 5 mph.

“Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the hurricane warning area before conditions deteriorate later tonight,” the hurricane center advised.

In Jalisco state, officials suspended classes on Monday in 22 coastal municipalities and started evacuating dozens from areas at risk. The tourism sector in Puerto Vallarta—a key destination for U.S. tourists—was asked to ensure workers and visitors were in shelters or safe areas by Friday afternoon. Businesses like convenience stores and hotels boarded up windows Saturday morning, and streets saw minimal activity under cloudy skies.

Jesús Gómez, standing outside his shop in Puerto Vallarta, expressed hope as he distributed candied peanuts, saying, “Let’s hope it doesn’t hit us, right? That it doesn’t affect us. We’ll be working as usual throughout the day, but when Civil Protection officials come and tell us we need to close, then we’ll close and take shelter until the storm passes.”

The hurricane center anticipated a dangerous storm surge near the coast where the center makes landfall, accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Canadian tourist Ed Currie, enjoying a vacation in Puerto Vallarta with his wife, commented, “Just stay in the hotel and look out the window hopefully. I just don’t know what to expect.”

The Pacific hurricane season has been highly active, unlike the Atlantic, which saw its first named hurricane of the season this week with Isaias. Simon follows Polo, which affected Mexico last week as a Category 2 hurricane before reaching the southwestern U.S., bringing heavy flooding.