Hurricane Simon remains a category 3 off the coast of Mexico and threatens with rain and heavy surf

Hurricane Simon remains a category 3 storm this Monday off the Mexican Pacific coast, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour, while threatening the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sinaloa with heavy rains, winds, and high waves, reported the National Meteorological Service (SMN).

At 06:00 local time (12:00 GMT), the center of the cyclone was located approximately 80 kilometers west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes (Jalisco), and 120 kilometers southwest of Punta Mita (Nayarit), with wind gusts of up to 220 kilometers per hour and moving northwest at four kilometers per hour.

According to the SMN, the cloud bands of Simon will cause very heavy rains, between 50 and 75 liters per square meter, in western Jalisco, the coast and western Nayarit, and southern Sinaloa.

In addition, wind gusts of between 90 and 100 kilometers per hour are expected in Jalisco, which will decrease during the day, and up to 60 kilometers per hour in Nayarit and southern Sinaloa.

The agency also warned of waves between four and five meters on the coasts of Jalisco, as well as 2.5 to 3.5 meters in Nayarit and central and southern Sinaloa.

The authorities maintain a prevention zone for hurricane wind effects from Playa Pérula (Jalisco), to El Roblito, (Nayarit), including the Islas Marías, and another surveillance zone up to Bahía Tempehuaya, Sinaloa.

The SMN warned that rainfall could cause landslides, rising rivers and streams, overflows, and flooding in low-lying areas.

Simon reached category 4 on Saturday, before weakening to category 3 on Sunday, when its path changed and it moved away from the possibility of an immediate impact on Jalisco.

The cyclone has caused flooding in towns in Jalisco and Colima, including Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, in addition to temporary airport closures, preventive evacuations, and restrictions on maritime activities.

Mexican authorities have asked the population to stay in safe places and follow Civil Protection notices due to the persistence of dangerous weather conditions.