Mexico Braces for Monster Storm: President Urges Shelter as Hurricane Simon Approaches
Hurricane Simon, a powerful Category 4 storm, is threatening Mexico’s Pacific coast. It brings strong winds and heavy rain. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asked people to stay indoors for safety.
On Sunday, Hurricane Simon moved near Mexico’s Jalisco state. Its winds reached 240 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour). Heavy rain already fell on communities between the Sierra Madre mountains and the ocean. People in hilly areas must prepare for mudslides. Simon became a Category 4 storm on Saturday during an active hurricane season.
President Sheinbaum used social media to warn residents. She urged people in coastal parts of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, and Michoacan to stay safe. They should remain sheltered until authorities declare the danger has passed.
The United States’ National Hurricane Center also gave an advisory. It warned of more rainfall for southwestern Mexico. Up to 41 centimeters (16 inches) of rain could fall. Some areas might see as much as 76 centimeters (30 inches) by Monday. This includes Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco.
It is not clear if the storm will make landfall. But Cabo Corrientes faces the highest risk. This town is on a cape in Jalisco, extending into the Pacific Ocean. Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination issued alerts. It put 28 towns in Jalisco and Colima on the highest alert. Another 93 towns were on a high alert level.
Schools were closed in the affected regions. Efforts to move people to safer places are ongoing. Businesses in tourist spots like Puerto Vallarta boarded their windows. They also placed sandbags to stop water.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Navarro also warned residents. He said the hurricane creates dangerous ocean conditions along the coast. Waves could reach eight meters (26 feet) high. Governor Navarro shared videos of waves hitting sidewalks and flooding waterways. He asked everyone to follow official advice and avoid risks. He stressed the safety of families in Jalisco is most important.
