MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Simon, which was headed toward part of Mexico's Pacific coast, has strengthened to a Category 2 storm Friday, the National Hurricane Center said.
The center said maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 100 mph (155 kph), and that Simon is expected to continue strengthening rapidly during the next day or so. Simon is forecast to become a major hurricane by late Friday and strengthen further on Saturday.
U.S. forecasters
earlier issued a hurricane warning for parts of the central and southwest coast, where hurricane-force winds were expected within 36 hours.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back for updates. AP’s earlier story follows below.
Hurricane Simon headed toward part of Mexico’s Pacific coast Friday and was forecast to get much stronger, threatening the coast of Jalisco and the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta.
U.S. forecasters issued a hurricane warning for parts of the central and southwest coast, where hurricane-force winds were expected within 36 hours.
The Category 1 hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 150 kph (90 mph) early Friday and was moving northwest at 7 kph (5 mph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
It was forecast to turn to the north by early Saturday and approach the coast. Simon was expected to intensify rapidly and become a Category 4 storm before landfall. Category 4 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson scale have maximum sustained winds of 210-250 kph (130-156 mph).
Simon was centered about 345 kilometers (215 miles) south of Manzanillo and 515 kilometers (320 miles) south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes. Tropical storm conditions were possible along the coast later Friday.
The state of Jalisco suspended classes on Friday and Monday in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuating dozens of people from at-risk areas. It also asked the tourism sector in Puerto Vallarta to ensure that both workers and visitors are fully accommodated in shelters or safe zones by Friday afternoon.
“If we let our guard down and try to come up with a last-minute action plan, it is highly likely that lives will be lost,” said the state director of civil protection, Sergio Ramírez.
Governor Pablo Lemus urged the public to stay informed at all times given the hurricane’s “highly erratic behavior,” which has caused it to change direction between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta.
“What is certain is that it will hit the coast of Jalisco with very heavy rains starting this Friday, throughout the weekend, and on Monday,” he said.
Simon was expected to produce torrential rainfall that could cause flooding and mudslides. U.S. forecasters said 20 to 38 centimeters (8 to 15 inches) of rain could fall in southwestern Mexico, with isolated areas getting up to 63 centimeters (25 inches).
Given the popularity of the latter destination among American tourists, the U.S. Embassy also issued alerts advising against entering the water or walking on the beach and urging travelers to heed the warnings of local authorities.
Farther north, Tropical Storm Rachel was expected to reach Baja California, northwestern Mexico and Southern California this weekend. It had 95 kph (60 mph) winds and was forecast to weaken, though it may bring heavy rain to the area.
Tropical storm activity has been above average this season in the Pacific, due to the effects of a strong El Niño.
The climate phenomenon typically depresses storm activity in the Atlantic. Hurricane Isaias, which was expected to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast late Friday or Saturday, developed more than four months into the Atlantic hurricane season.
