Hurricane Simon strengthens to Category 4 as it nears Mexico's Pacific coast

Hurricane Simon strengthened to Category 4 intensity on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. The National Hurricane Center located the center about 115 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima, moving north at roughly 5 to 7 mph. Minimum central pressure fell to around 932 to 938 millibars. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters confirmed the intensity in the afternoon.

A hurricane warning covers the coast from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita, including Manzanillo, Mexico’s largest Pacific port, and areas near Puerto Vallarta. A tropical storm watch extends farther south. The NHC said preparations to protect life and property should be completed during the day. Catastrophic wind and life-threatening storm surge are expected near the landfall point. Large destructive waves will accompany the surge.

Rainfall of 10 to 20 inches is forecast across portions of southwestern Mexico through Sunday, with isolated totals of 30 inches possible in parts of Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco. The rain will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. States of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco face the heaviest totals. Jalisco suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuations from at-risk areas. About 100 families from Yelapa and Quimixto were moved by ferry to Puerto Vallarta. The Port of Manzanillo shut down.

Simon formed on October 7 and intensified rapidly. It rose from Category 2 to Category 4 within hours on Saturday. Satellite imagery suggested an eyewall replacement cycle overnight. Models now converge on a landfall in Jalisco within 24 to 36 hours. After landfall the storm is expected to weaken quickly over the mountainous terrain of western Mexico and become a post-tropical remnant by early next week.

One death was already reported in Guerrero when a stone wall collapsed onto a home. Power poles and trees were downed in Acapulco, and some houses flooded. The main threat remains ahead of landfall. Residents in the warning area were told to finish preparations immediately. The combination of Category 4 winds, surge, and extreme rainfall makes Simon one of the more dangerous Pacific systems of the 2026 season for the Mexican coast.