PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Simon hit Mexico’s Pacific coast as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, its eye remaining just offshore as its most powerful winds and rain hit people living between the Sierra Madre and the ocean.
The center of the hurricane swirled parallel to the coast, approaching the Puerto Vallarta area, where the most damaging winds and rain are expected to strike around midnight and continue through Monday morning. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said it was unclear whether it would make landfall, which could allow it to maintain its dangerous strength, sustaining winds of 140 mph (220 kph).
This is not good news for residents of Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas, a popular destination for American tourists. Just inland and upriver from resort areas, many Mexicans live in communities where housing might not withstand the storm.
Sunday midday, Simon’s eye was moving about 100 kilometers from Cabo Corrientes at about 11 km/h. Phillipe Pappin, senior hurricane center specialist, said this westernmost tip of mainland Mexico is the area most likely to be hit directly by the system. Cabo Corrientes sits on the southern tip of Bahia de Banderas, the wide bay where Puerto Vallarta overlooks the Pacific.
Hurricane-force winds extend up to 25 miles (35 kilometers) and tropical storm-force winds reach up to 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Simon’s center, meaning the entire area between Mexico’s west coast and the Sierra Madre Mountains could be affected.
“We expect catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surges along the west-central coast of Mexico, where the hurricane warning is currently in effect,” Pappin said. “They are also receiving very heavy rain associated with the storm that will likely produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides in areas of higher terrain along the Mexican coast, and there will be significant swells.”
Meanwhile, the hurricane dumped rain on parts of southwest Mexico. It could bring 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50 centimeters) of rain to many places, some areas of the states of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco receiving up to 30 inches (76 centimeters).
As the storm approached Puerto Vallarta, National Guard vehicles patrolled the streets while police used a megaphone to call out to the few people jogging, walking their dogs or riding bikes along the water’s edge. Officers reminded people the area was closed and urged them to take shelter. Not everyone followed orders.
State of Jalisco suspended classes Friday and Monday in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuating people from risk areas while asking the tourism sector to ensure workers and visitors are fully accommodated in shelters or safe areas.
Canadian tourist Ed Currie, who still has five days with his wife to enjoy Puerto Vallarta, said Saturday that the hurricane had not yet affected his plans.
“Just stay in the hotel and look out the window, hopefully,” he said as convenience stores, hotels and other businesses boarded up their windows. “I just don’t know what to expect.”
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