Hurricane Simon hits Mexico's Pacific coast, slamming towns and resorts
Category 4 Hurricane Simon is threatening Mexico's Pacific coast with catastrophic winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall. Forecasters are monitoring the storm's path as it moves parallel to the coastline near popular tourist destinations.
Why it matters
Major hurricanes pose significant risks to human life, infrastructure, and the tourism-dependent economies of coastal regions.
Simon's eye was moving northward just off the coast, and forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center said it's not clear if it will make landfall. This could mean Simon maintains its extremely dangerous strength, sustaining winds of 240 km/h.
That's not good news for people in the Puerto Vallarta area, a popular destination for Canadian tourists. Just inland and uphill from the resort areas, many Mexicans live in communities where housing might not stand up to the storm.
At daybreak, Simon was centered about 175 kilometres south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes, and moving north-northwest at a relatively slow eight km/h. A senior Hurricane Center specialist, Phillippe Pappin, said this westernmost tip of mainland Mexico was the most likely place for landfall.
"Simon is very close to the coast of Mexico this morning," Pappin told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Also covering this story
6 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Puerto Vallarta boards up as Hurricane Simon hits Category 4 strength - AP News
Hurricane Simon nears Mexico with 155 mph winds and flooding fears
Hurricane Simon strengthens into Category 4 storm as it takes aim at Mexico's Pacific coast
Hurricane Simon strengthens as it nears western Mexico
Hurricane Simon strengthens to Category 4 off Mexico coast
Puerto Vallarta boards up as Hurricane Simon hits Category 4 strength - The Seattle Times
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in