Hurricane Simon strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Saturday, threatening destructive winds, storm surges and potentially deadly flooding as it approaches landfall.
The US National Hurricane Center said Simon was located about 115 miles (185 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo on Saturday morning, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph) as it moved northward.
Simon is expected to approach the west-central coast of Mexico as a major hurricane late Saturday or early Sunday, and some additional strengthening remains possible before landfall, the NHC said.
A hurricane warning was in effect for portions of Mexico’s Pacific coast south of the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, including the area around Manzanillo, Mexico’s largest Pacific port. A tropical storm watch was in effect farther south toward Lazaro Cardenas.
The NHC urged residents in the warning area, which also includes the Islas Marias archipelago offshore, to rush preparations to protect life and property.
