Hurricane Simon is just off the Pacific coast of Mexico and is expected to move inland as an extremely powerful storm. Simon has strengthened to 155 mph, just below the threshold for a Category 5 storm. It is about 60 miles west-southwest of Manzanilla. The hurricane could bring 10 to 20 inches of rain over parts of southwestern Mexico, with some areas receiving up to 30 inches. The center warns of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Jalisco state has suspended classes and begun evacuations. Businesses in Puerto Vallarta are preparing for the storm, with many boarding up windows and taking precautions.
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The Flying Men of Papantla perform the "Danza de los Voladores" on the beach as Hurricane Simon approaches Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A man boards up a shop as Hurricane Simon approaches Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A man places a window covering on his boat as Hurricane Simon approaches Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Workers place sandbags outside a restaurant as Hurricane Simon approaches Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Hurricane Simon has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm as it heads toward Mexico’s coast. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that Simon’s maximum sustained winds have reached 150 mph. A storm of this strength is considered a major hurricane. Heavy rainfall is expected over parts of southwestern Mexico, with rain possibly concentrated across the coast of Jalisco and parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Nayarit. Forecasters warn of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. The bulletin also urged residents to take immediate action to prepare.
This satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA shows Hurricane Simon in the Pacific on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP)